Zone K consultation FAQs
1. Will my visitors get free parking if our zone chooses to extend the parking control hours to evenings and weekends?
Only during the extended hours – ie after 5pm Monday to Friday, and throughout the weekend. And only if they are booked in by you using a Resident Visitor Permit on RingGo.
2. Will my visitors get a reduced rate the rest of the time?
If they are booked in by you using a Resident Visitor Permit (RVP) on RingGo, your visitors already get a reduced rate 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday. That will not change. They can be booked in by you for free after 5pm Monday to Friday and throughout the weekend (if the extended hours are introduced).
3. How do I get a Resident Visitor Permit (RVP)?
You can apply for a Resident Visitor Permit on the council's website: Visitor Permits. You will need your council tax details or proof of address such as a utility bill.
4. I don’t own a car. Can I still get an RVP?
Yes. All residents are entitled to RVPs, even if you don’t own a vehicle. This also applies to residents living in car-free developments.
5. Would the proposed new two-hour maximum stay restriction still apply to my guests?
Not if they are booked in by you. If you use an RVP on RingGo to create a parking session for your guests, the maximum stay restriction will not apply to them.
6. If I book a session before 5pm and it continues after 5pm, will charges stop automatically?
No. You will need to make a separate booking on RingGo for the period after 5pm. Charges do not automatically stop when the chargeable hours end.
7. My father has a Blue Badge. Will he still be able to use it if we opt to extend the parking control hours during evenings and weekends?
Blue Badge holders will be unaffected by any potential changes to parking controls. They can park in any shared use resident or visitor bay with no time restrictions and without the need for payment.
8. I already have a Parking Permit. What difference would the changes make to me if they are introduced?
Nothing, except you should see more parking availability on your street. Your parking permit is valid in exactly the same way as now, and any visitors you have, provided you book their parking sessions in using a Resident Visitor Permit on RingGo, will cost the same and will continue to be excluded from the maximum stay.
9. How many Resident Visitor Permits can a household have?
Each household is entitled to have two Resident Visitor Permits on RingGo.
10. How many vehicles can be booked in at the same time using a Resident Visitor Permit?
Currently you are able to book in up to five vehicles at a time during the 9am to 5pm control hours using an RVP on RingGo. If the hours are extended, you will be able to book five vehicles in for FREE during the extended hours. This way we can ensure priority is given to you and your visitors at all times.
11. What happens if residents vote against extending the parking controls?
Nothing. The parking controls will stay the same. We will continue to consult with zones in the rest of the borough. Your zone may be considered again in the future, but it may be some time before it is consulted on again.
12. What if different parts of the zone support different options?
We want to help streets prioritise parking for their residents and visitors. If there is no clear majority in favour of a single option across the zone, we will carry out a street-by-street analysis of the consultation results to identify local preferences and any specific area-based needs. So a street grouping could end up with different parking restrictions to the rest of the zone.
13. Why are you proposing control hours until 10pm or 11pm?
If you vote to extend the control hours in the survey, you will be asked whether you want them to go on until 10pm or 11pm. Some zones where there is late night commercial activity opt for 11pm, others for 10pm. We want to give residents the choice. The aim is to ensure that people are able to park near their homes at all times.
14. Why do business visitors receive a discount?
We want to support local shopkeepers, restaurants and cafes. Where parking restrictions are extended, local businesses will be able to book their customers in on RingGo using a bespoke business visitor permit at a reduced rate with no maximum stay restrictions. Discounted permits for business visitors help support local businesses while ensuring they remain subject to the same parking controls as other users.
15. I don’t live in the zone but attend religious services that can last more than two hours. How can I park?
Places of Worship can apply for Visitor Permits, which may be used by members of their congregation and are not subject to maximum stay restrictions. In addition, special permits are available which Places of Worship can apply for and use to support those with the greatest need.
16. Why are you proposing controls from 8.30am rather than 9am?
Starting controls at 8.30am better aligns with peak commuter travel times. It helps to discourage early morning non-resident parking and prevents residential streets from being used as all-day commuter parking. It also helps discourage parking by parents, guardians and carers doing school drop-offs.
17. Isn’t this just a way for the council to make money?
No. The purpose of the proposed changes is to address parking pressures identified by residents. We are offering FREE PARKING during any extended control hours for residents' visitors. And income from parking enforcement is ring-fenced to be reinvested in transport services, highway maintenance and environmental improvements.