titlepage/contents pg 1-16 - British Parking Association

Public Consultation 133councillors to conduct aconsultation or introduce acontroversial scheme in a preelectionperiod. It is alsoundesirable to make majorchanges to parking in towncentres or other shopping areasin the Christmas shoppingperiod, which generally builds upfrom the autumn school halfterm. In a tourist area, it may beundesirable to make changes inJuly and August.Due to these and other factors,the “windows of opportunity” forboth consultation and schemeimplementation are limited. Table8.1 illustrates periods that can berelatively problem-free, althoughthe local authority must be awareof other factors such as localfestivals and variable schoolhalf-term dates.Where a developer funds theintroduction of a CPZ under aplanning contributionsagreement, it is necessary toseek approval before thedevelopment is brought into use,bearing in mind that it is theCouncil, not the developer, whoimplements the parking controls.These constraints need to bebuilt into the project programme.It also has to be recognised thatone month of slippage of theprogramme can result in manymonths of delay inimplementation. It is importantthat all parties to the process(council Members and officers,and any consultants andcontractors involved) are awareof the nature of theseconstraints. Failure by any partyto meet the programme cancause serious delays, resultingin lost revenue, extendedperiods of disruption on thestreets, and other problems.Consultation fatigueA further important factor to beborne in mind is the timetable ofother consultation exercisesbeing undertaken especiallythose that are related to parking,such as the Local TransportPlan. Local authorities shouldaim to dovetail differentconsultation programmes, andTable 8.1 Preferred times for parking scheme consultation and implementation.ConsultationImplementationJanuary ✔ ✔February ✔ ✔March ✔* ✔*April ✔* ✔*May ✔** ✔**June ✔ ✔July ✔*** ✔***August ✘ ✘****September ✔ ✔October ✔ ✔November ✔ ✔December ✘ ✘* But avoiding Easter school holidays** But not in election years*** But avoiding school holidays**** But may be preferred in areas with student housing and facilitiestry to avoid “consultationfatigue”, and confusion on thepart of consultees.Post implementationreview of schemesControlled parking schemes arecomplex and can cause variedimpacts on many people. It is notalways possible to predict theseimpacts, and even where there isan extensive consultationprocess, many people do notappreciate the effects andtherefore do not make aninformed response. It is,therefore, good practice to havea comprehensive review afterimplementation. Suchconsultation should beconducted six to twelve monthsafter the scheme is introduced(see Table 8.2).During this period, feedbackshould be sought from theconsultative forum and possiblyfrom the wider public to gaugehow successfully the parkingstrategy has been received andto seek opinions on anyamendments that should beimplemented. The cost andresources of monitoring thestrategy and of undertaking thereview process should beincorporated within the budgetfor the strategy. The initial reviewwill include a number ofelements but will essentially befine-tuning of the existingregulations. More significantchanges such as extensions tothe CPZ or modifying charges