The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act has become law and provides measures for new devolved powers, parishes and parking rules. Community Right To Buy The Act introduces a new Community Right to Buy will give local people the first right of refusal for valued community assets such as shops and community centres when they…
In this review we focus on the implications of the UK Government’s new Better Connected Integrated Transport Strategy for urban and rural communities. The Strategy sets the direction for a more joined-up transport network that works better for passengers, drivers and communities across England. Of course, at the People & Places Partnership, we are going…
It was a great opportunity for me to be asked the address the role of parking in welcoming places by the organisers of the North East Parking Show. From many of years of encouraging greater collaboration between parking and place managers, I still perceive a gap in the understanding between these two sectors, despite their…
Faced with frequent calls from businesses and customers for free parking in towns centres, I often liken it to expecting a free coffee in a town centre cafe. Yes, that might be welcomed though what would the coffee be like and would the cafe stay open for long? Here I look a little more in…
Place leaders often want to know about the options for improving parking for businesses and customers, though do not know where to go for objective and affordable advice. That was part of the thinking behind the People & Places Partnership combining forces and vocabulary with Park Consult, to devise the People, Places & Parking…
It is important for local authorities to take a broad perspective on the place of parking in town centres. That was my message in recently addressing council members and officers at a Local Government Association event on parking and high streets. My thought was to challenge participants to think beyond the silos of their own…
What is the post-pandemic direction of travel in switching from a dependency on the car to using a greater mix of active travel to use our town and city centres? During the last year I have watched-on curiously as the already enjoyable bike ride between my home and office has been gradually upgraded by long-term…
Colchester is the first town in the country piloting Park Active as a more sustainable route into town centres. The approach is part of a national pilot programme being led by the British Parking Association (BPA) and supported by the UK Government. Simple idea The central idea for Park Active is simple: to encourage motorists…
What is the new parking code and why might it matter to the vitality of town and city centres? Amongst a raft of new measures recently heralded by the government as helping to prepare our high streets and seaside resorts for summer reopening, was an announcement of changes to private parking enforcement. The government said…
This case study shows how North Kesteven District Council undertook a customer-led review of parking provision resulting in a joined-up approach to parking and place in Sleaford town centre. The outcomes are improved benefits for a range of town centre customers and businesses alongside increased council revenue to re-invest in the parking service. Like many…