Your local councillors are continuing to work on the long running problem of the shortage of parking spaces for cars in the Kite area of the city centre.  City Councillor Colin Rosenstiel and County Councillor Sarah Whitebread yesterday met with County Council staff at Shire Hall to discuss some possible steps forward.

One proposal being looked at is the removal of the 30 minute waiting bay on Earl Street and replacement with a streetcar bay.  There is already one streetcar easily accessible for Kite residents in Adam and Eve Street car park, but demand is such that an additional car seems a good idea.  The hope is the change could be advertised in the Autumn, with the streetcar going in next spring if the response from residents is positive.

Councillors also urged Council staff to remind student residents of the University’s rules on car ownership, to which they are bound by contract.

Cllr Sarah Whitebread pressed the council officers on the issue of the abuse of visitors permits, but was assured that the numbers issued are monitored closely and any abuses are followed up.  If any resident has evidence of abuse of the visitors permits scheme they should contact Graham Lowe at the county council via email to graham.lowe@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.

Cllr Rosenstiel is keen to investigate a proposal that single yellow lined areas should be used as residents parking at weekends (except in narrow streets like Elm Street and Orchard Street that should soon have double yellow lines), but this proposal is in the early stages as it may not be legal to sign such an arrangement.  Colin and officers are researching this plan.

In the meantime, Cllr Whitebread will be speaking at the County cabinet meeting in June against the proposed increase in residents permit charges.  Any resident wishing to make a formal objection to the proposals should contact Graham Lowe on the address above before 31st May.