Old Dogsthorpe - Peterborough City Council

The Issue

As part of the Dogsthorpe Regeneration Project, Peterborough City Council (PCC) identified the area of Old Dogsthorpe as having particular problems with pavement parking. Alongside causing traffic safety hazards and restricting pedestrian access, the parking of vehicles on pavements has a detrimental effect on the visual appearance of the area as PCC Project Development Manager David Plater explains:

"A large number of drivers in the Old Dogsthorpe area park their cars on the grass verges, and this causes considerable damage and environmental degradation"

Consultation

In order to tackle the issue of pavement parking, PCC have consulted with residents in the Old Dogsthorpe area through the circulation of a survey and accompanying information leaflets. The survey, designed to gather data on drivers' parking habits whilst also introducing the concept of a pavement parking ban zone yielded a 35% return rate from the 2,000 residents contacted. Select the link below to view a copy of the survey.

Pavement Parking Ban Survey PDF (357 KB)

PCC have informed the public of the plans for managing pavement parking in the Old Dogsthorpe area by hosting open exhibitions and Question and Answer sessions. Select the link below to view the leaflet advertising a public exhibition.

Exhibition Poster PDF (27 KB)

In addition, PCC circulated a general information leaflet informing residents on all aspects of the pavement parking management plans including a map of the area. Included in this literature is an indication that the pavement parking ban zone will be active 24 hours a day. This leaflet can be viewed by selecting the link below.

Awareness Leaflet PDF (413 KB)

The Solution

Following the consultation process, PCC will be introducing an experimental pavement parking ban zone in the Old Dogsthorpe area. The introduction of the zone largely reflects the views of local residents, with 73% of respondents to the Pavement Parking Ban survey registering their support for such an initiative. The scheme will also include converting some grass verges into parking bays, a measure supported by 82% of survey respondents. The pavement parking element of the Dogsthorpe Project is due to be completed by the end of 2006, and Mr Plater clearly believes that the initiative will result in a substantial improvement to the visual appearance of the area:

"We hope that the pavement parking measures we are implementing in Old Dogsthorpe will in time form an intrinsic part of the wider regeneration project in the area, helping to reduce traffic hazards and improve the visual appearance of the living environment"

Signage

Examples of the signage being used by PCC in the Old Dogsthorpe area can be viewed by selecting the above link entitled PDF Awareness Leaflet.

More Information

For more information on the measures taken by PCC to manage pavement parking in the Old Dogsthorpe area, contact David Plater: david.plater@peterborough.gov.uk

Note: The Dogsthorpe Regeneration Project is an initiative launched in April 2006 by Peterborough City Council to tackle a wide range of community issues in the Dogsthorpe area, including the regeneration of the living environment. Part of the project is financed by the European Regional Development Fund.

Note: PCC plan to use the Old Dogsthorpe area as a testing ground prior to the proposed introduction of a pavement parking ban zone across the city in the future.