RESIDENTS are split over proposals – now delayed – for parking restrictions in St Andrews.
The Voice reported last month on St Andrews Parking Action Group that the district had been moved down the priority list for a possible parking zone.
Its members said they were dismayed that controlled parking was now unlikely to be considered until 2029. They said unrestricted parking blighted the area and they wanted an explanation as to why a scheme promised in December 2025 had been delayed.
But a number of residents contacted the Voice to say that they were not in favour of a residents parking zone for St Andrews.
One said the action group did not represent a majority of people living in St Andrews.
The resident said: “The introduction of a RPZ in St Andrews would lead to further destruction of our precious front gardens by residents creating their own parking areas with the consequent loss of biodiverse habitat and an increase in water runoff into the streets.
“If the council believe that there is a problem associated with vans parked around St Andrews park, why don’t they deal with this issue directly?
“Why impose an unwanted and unnecessary parking scheme that penalises all vehicle-owning residents with a costly and intrusive system of permits and clutters our Victorian streets with signs, lines and pay-and-display machines?”
This was backed by another resident who suggested that a ‘no overnight camping’ ban and some double yellow lines on the corners could deal with the issue around the park.
A third person commented: “There are some St Andrews residents who are frustrated with the delayed introduction to RPZ. That said, there are also many St Andrews residents (including myself) who don’t want RPZ introduced in our area and have campaigned against it for many years.”
Councillor Ed Plowden, chair of the city’s transport and connectivity committee, said in a blog on the council’s website that residents’ parking schemes could help people to park near their homes and encourage commuters to consider alternatives to single occupancy car use.
He stressed that getting parking charges and restrictions right was a balancing act and the council was continuing to have conversations with residents and businesses about the future of transport in Bristol.
The city already has a number of residents parking schemes and Cllr Plowden said the council was looking at bringing in more in south Bristol then areas in the north and east.
Any proposed RPS would be subject to public consultation.