Action plan to tackle Alnwick's parking issues

Northumberland County Council has come up with the strategy and some of the measures are below, with an indicative timescale.

○ Convert 80 long-stay spaces in Greenwell Road car park A to short stay three-hour spaces – August 2018.

○ Convert four-hour bays to three hours in Greenwell Road car park D – August 2018.

○ Convert short-stay bays on Bondgate Within (outside Costa) from two hours to 30 minutes – August 2018.

○ Provide additional on-street parking in Pottergate by removing double-yellow lines. Will require consultation with residents – October 2018.

○ Introducing a 24-hour maximum stay to all town centre long-stay car parks – September 2018.

○ Investigate potential new car-park sites at the old Duchess’s High School site and St Michael’s school field – September 2018.

○ Liaise with Alnwick Garden regarding its role in helping to relieve town-centre parking pressure – ongoing.

○ Investigate the feasibility of decking Greenwell Road car park D to provide an additional storey – September 2018.

○ Consider introducing seasonal time limits in the summer to increase short-stay capacity – June 2018.

○ Address issue of problems caused by Blue Badge holders parking on double-yellow lines at Bailey’s corner, Bondgate Within – June 2018.

○ Undertake review of disabled provision – ongoing.

○ Review signage, to give drivers more information on location of car parks – review by June, amendments by October 2018.

○ Review parking signs/surface markings in the Market Place to help with enforcement – July 2018.

○ Commission detailed options appraisal for a seasonal park and ride service with Alnwick Town Council and The Garden during 2018, for consideration in summer 2019.

○ Resolve ownership issues/implement improvements to Roxburgh Place car park – summer 2019.

○ Periodically review options to start parking charges.

○ Investigate feasibility of providing more electronic vehicle charging points and cycle parking – October 2018.

○ Ensure new developments make suitable provision for public transport – Immediate.

○ Continue to promote/provide infrastructure to encourage sustainable transport – ongoing.

○ Clarify status of footpaths on Bondgate cobbles – August 2018.

BACKGROUND TO THE ACTION PLAN

Northumberland County Council commissioned a study into existing car-park capacity and usage in Alnwick, Berwick, Hexham and Morpeth, to produce a strategy for meeting future parking needs. In Alnwick, the survey took place on weekdays and Saturdays in August and September.

MONEY AVAILABLE

The county council has allocated £10million in its medium-term financial plan to fund a programme of improvements to parking provision in the county, which can be used to support the implementation of the proposed actions.

The action plan will be reviewed annually. County representatives have said that they will try to progress actions in Alnwick as quickly as possible.