Residents' parking spaces in Belle Vue Road Picture Ref: 77608-75MANY Swindon residents could only be allowed one parking permit for each house.

The change is one of a series of measures put forward in a bid to improve the residents' parking system.

In all but one of the 12 parking zones in the town more permits are issued than there are spaces for cars meaning many residents struggle to find a space to park in spite of holding a permit.

Now Swindon Council is proposing phasing out the second permit as well as a range of other measures to tackle the problem.

Coun Jemima Milton, cabinet member for environment and property, said they were asked by residents to review the zones.

"There followed one of the most comprehensive consultations ever conducted on a single issue, with numerous meetings, surveys and discussions with local people," she said.

"I feel that the resulting recommendations in the report going to cabinet are very much joint ones and are widely supported by the people we spoke to.

"This is a great example of the council engaging with residents to address a local issue in a positive way."

The proposals, which go before the council's cabinet next Wednesday, were drawn up after public meetings and workshops held to discuss the situation with residents.

The majority of residents at the meetings supported some form of rationing of permits while a significant minority supported much higher pricing some as high as several hundred pounds for second permits.

So for several of the parking zones the council is proposing increasing the price of the second permit over three years, up to £150, before withdrawing it in the fourth year.

But not all residents are behind the proposals.

In zone D, in the Kent Road area of Old Town, 710 permits have been issued for the 514 spaces available meaning there are 1.38 permits per space but, in spite of the problems residents are still concerned about the changes.

Ria Best, who lives in a shared house on Hythe Road, was most worried about the removal of the second permit.

"Three of us live here, two of us have cars," she said. "We live independently. We were strangers before we moved in.

"You can't expect three strangers living in a house to fight it out for one permit."

Miss Best, 25, said she always managed to find a space but thought people with garages should be encouraged to use them. "Maybe the houses which have the possibility of rear parking should only get one permit," she said.

"Houses that are registered as shared accommodation could maybe qualify for more."

Rob Jones, also of Hythe Road, agreed the measures would encourage him to start using his garage but did not think the increase in price would discourage people from having two cars and parking them on the street.

"I don't think putting the prices up will stop people parking here because they have to park here," he said.

"I think the majority of people will just be more unhappy."

What the new proposals could mean to householders

If accepted the changes would probably be come into effect in October. They include:

The cost of the first permit for households in all zones will rise to £25.

In zones A, D, E, F and G the price of a second permit will rise to £50 this year, £100 next year and £150 in the third year before being abolished in the fourth year. New residents will only be entitled to one permit.

In zone L the cost of a second permit would rise as above while the cost of a third permit would cost £100, £150 then £200 before both second and third permits are withdrawn.

In zones B, C, H, J, K and N second permits will cost £50. Third permits will cost £100 this year and £150 next year before being withdrawn in the third year.

A new residents' parking zone will be created in the town centre so residents not included in the existing zones can apply for a permit to park in town centre long stay car parks at any time for £625 a year or between 6pm and 9am for £150 a year.

Pay and display parking will be introduced in some areas of zone A between 9am and 6pm Monday to Saturday but permit holders will be able to park there without charge.

Anyone with a permit who buys an overnight car park ticket in a car park adjoining their zone, which would normally cover 6pm to 6am, will be covered until 9am.

Books of visitor permits will only be valid for 12 months. The three-hour visitor permits will be changed to four-hour permits.

Double yellow lines will be introduced in some back roads to ensure access to garages.

Operational permits for people such as carers will be available for £1.10 an hour.

Isabel Field