PEOPLE living in St Andrews are angry that plans for a residents parking zone have been delayed by up to three years.
Councillors and officers have confirmed that the proposed restrictions, agreed at the end of last year, will not now come in until 2029.
St Andrews has been moved down the priority list for a controlled parking zone, known as an RPS – even though problems in the area are getting worse.
St Andrews Parking Action Group says there has been an increase in people from outside the district parking in roads throughout the area and particularly around the park.
One resident, Richard, says his home is surrounded by camper vans on both sides of his street.
He said: “It’s definitely got worse since the council ordered van dwellers away from the Downs last year.
“We know that many have simply re-parked their vehicles here in St Andrews. I cannot believe the council’s stupidity to allow the vans it forcibly moved off the Downs to simply re-park their vehicles around St Andrews Park, it beggars belief!”
Resident Hugh said the council should keep the promise made in December 2025 to extend an RPS to cover St Andrews. At the time it said residents could expect preparation, consultation and delivery in 12-18 months.
Now the action group has been told “funding and resources do not permit this timescale” and that “an operational delivery matter” means the scheme will not be in place until 2029.
Members believe St Andrews RPS has been moved below seven other schemes but say they have not been told why.
“The unlimited parking blights the whole of St Andrews,” said Hugh.
“I cannot think of any other town or city in Britain – or even area of Bristol – where this would be tolerate and, to add insult to injury, the council have given St Andrews residents and park users including families, the elderly, disabled and dog walkers, no proper explanation for this three-year delay.”
Karen, another St Andrews resident, said she felt commuter parking, additional e-bike and e-scooter bays, the clean air zone, long-term vehicle storage on the streets, and displacement from other RPSs had all contributed to rising problems throughout St Andrews.
“Scarce residential parking must be managed fairly,” she said.
Bristol City Council’s lead member for transport, Councillor Ed Plowden, wrote in a blog on the authority’s website last month that it was essential to get the balance right in managing limited parking in the city.
He said the council was working on a city-wide Parking and Kerbside Strategy, which had already brought simplified pay-and-display charges and charging at nine car parks that used to be free.
“These changes sit alongside other conversations we’re having with residents and businesses about the future of transport in Bristol, including proposals for a workplace parking levy and exploring introducing more residents’ parking schemes across the city which help people to park near their homes and encourage commuters to consider alternatives to single occupancy car use. We’ll be bringing forward proposals in the south soon, followed by areas in the north and east of the city,” Cllr Plowden wrote.
Councillor Tim Wye, one of the three Ashley ward councillors, said in his column in this month’s Voice that he and Cllr Plowden had met residents in St Andrews to explain why the RPS – sometimes also known as an RPZ – could no longer be brought in during 2027.
“This is a complex area with dense parking, narrow streets as well as the visitor demands of the park and Gloucester Road shops. The team don’t think it can realistically be on the ground until late 2028/early 29,” he said.
“Many residents will find this very disappointing and we understand that, but it is important to get it right. The commitment is there and officers have already been out and about carrying out initial surveys of the streets as the first step to making this happen.”
