BPARA receives more complaints about parking than any other issue and attempts to address, wherever possible. For instance:
In 2021, we raised concerns about the absence of student parking provision in the Transport Assessment attached to the IOT planning application, and the assessment was revised to allow for this.
In 2021 and 2022, we worked with WBC and the owners of Wilton Hall to address parking issues.
In late 2022, we, and also WBC, objected to proposed changes to the MKCC Parking Standard under which any future developments in the Sherwood Drive area would be subject to lower required parking provision. As you are aware, considerable development will be taking place here and elsewhere, plus the advent of East/West Rail, which will increase the number of commuters using the rail station.
Station Parking Zone (SPZ)
To address parking, primarily by commuters, in roads within 15 minutes’ walk of the Rail Station, SPZ consultations were conducted in 2019 and 2020, the attached notice is a copy of that sent to residents in May 2020 – a similar notice was used for the 2019 consultation..
Due to the impact of Covid-19 restrictions, including lock down, and resource issues in the Highways Department at Milton Keynes City Council (MKCC), the next steps of the SPZ Initiative were not taken forward by MKCC.
Since then, BPARA and WBC has lobbied MKCC on several occasions to revisit the SPZ. MKCC have advised this will now be happening in April this year, and WBC councillors were made aware at the 16 January meeting. However, at this stage, WBC does not know whether new consultations will be necessary and will not have any details until nearer the time. You will receive information once this is available.
You may have seen social media posts about parking issues from residents in Welchman Court and Tiltman Lane, including dangerous parking on the entrance to Tiltman Avenue. This appears to contravene Rule 243 of the Highway Code. This rule covers various conditions including “not parking on a bend, or where access to emergency vehicles is impacted” – The Highway Code – Waiting and parking (238 to 252) – Guidance – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). To address this, a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) is necessary and involves a number of steps which West Bletchley Council WBC) is currently taking steps to address. These roads will also be reviewed under the the SPZ initiative.
