Parking Management Project
Background
Inconsiderate drivers cause a nuisance for residents and other highway users across this borough and indeed the whole country. Often attributed to what is considered a good thing, namely improved affluence, the resulting problems of increasing car ownership levels require managing, which is why generically, travel and transport warrant so much legislation and media attention.
For the borough of Dartford (and many others), the resulting issues are increasingly problematic. These have been recognised by officers and councillors, many of whom reside in this borough, and Dartford's Cabinet have decided to tackle the problems, starting with the areas around Dartford's town centre and Greenhithe's railway station.
A strategic approach is preferred in an attempt to prevent displacing vehicles and compounding problems for others.
Project progress
October 2007: Approximately six-and-a-half thousand households were invited to comment on parking related issues in 'their' streets for areas around Dartford Town Centre and Greenhithe railway station. More than thirteen hundred responses were received.
March 2008: A report that summarised the key results of the consultation and made generic recommendations for solutions went to Cabinet 20 March 2008 Item 198. Cabinet agreed that detailed kerb-space management proposals be developed based on the residents’ stated preference, alongside discussions with respective ward councillors.
Summer 2008: Detailed proposals for kerb-space management were developed as agreed by Cabinet.
October 2008: A report that detailed the kerb-space management proposals went to Cabinet 23 October 2008 Item 82. Cabinet requested that respective ward councillors agree the proposals and that a further report be submitted.
January 2009: A report incorporating the respective ward councillors comments went to Cabinet 22 January 2009 Item 127. Cabinet resolved that further consultation be completed for the Dartford area to ensure that feedback from the October 2007 consultation has been interpreted satisfactorily. Cabinet also resolved that the proposals for the Greenhithe area be referred to the respective ward councillors and Swanscombe and Greenhithe Town Council for review in light of residents’ comments received via a second round of informal consultation earlier in the month.
February 2009: Revised kerb-space management proposals incorporating the comments from the respective ward councillors and Swanscombe and Greenhithe Town Council went to Cabinet 26 February 2009 Item 148. Cabinet resolved that the proposals be taken forward to the statutory process.
September 2009: The second round of informal consultation took place for the Dartford area 21/08/2009 to 11/09/2009, netting more than one thousand responses.
November 2009: The statutory consultation took place for the Greenhithe area 08/10/2009 to 02/11/2009, netting about three hundred responses.
December 2009: Two reports went to Cabinet via Joint Transportation Board, one for Dartford Item 112 and one for Greenhithe Item 113 . Cabinet agreed the recommendations for both reports. The statutory process was to commence for Dartford and the statutory process was to be finished for Greenhithe with the resident supported parking management schemes delivered.
- Dartford - map of the supported areas (PDF, 1.19MB)
- Greenhithe -map of the final schemes (PDF, 2.33MB)
March 2010: Letters were delivered to the appropriate Greenhithe residents advising either that: proposals for Worcester Close and London Road were deleted due to the majority of residents' responses objecting to the statutory proposals; or that Controlled Parking Zones (CPZs) will be delivered for their area due to majority residents' support.
Summer 2010: Kent County Council 'Made' the Traffic Regulation Order for the new parking controls in Greenhithe and the lining and signing installations for the schemes took place. The schemes became effective 31 August 2010.
The next steps
Greenhithe: The CPZs will be patrolled by Dartford Borough Council's parking enforcement team to ensure compliance with the parking controls. The schemes will also be monitored to see how parking habits change and to ensure the schemes operate as expected.
Dartford: A traffic regulation order is to be drafted and the statutory consultation should take place during October 2010 (this has been delayed from the Spring due to the delivery of Greenhithe schemes). The results will be analysed and discussed with respective ward councillors before any recommendations are presented to Cabinet for consideration.
Previous Consultation Leaflets
- Dartford town centre area consultation leaflet - October 2007 (PDF, 760KB)
- Greenhithe area consultation leaflet - October 2007 (PDF, 748KB)
- Greenhithe area consultation leaflet - January 2009 (PDF, 934KB)
- East Dartford consultation leaflet - September 2009 (PDF 330KB)
- Map of Dartford East area - September 2009 (PDF, 2 MB)
- West Dartford consultation leaflet - September 2009 (PDF, 310KB)
- Map of Dartford West area - September 2009 (PDF, 2.4 MB)
- Greenhithe Statutory Notice - November 2009 (PDF, 66KB)
- Greenhithe Map - November 2009 (PDF, 1.9MB)
- Frequently asked questions (PDF, 25KB) about the parking management proposals
