Sutton has the sixth-highest levels of car ownership and usage in London. This has led to issues about traffic congestion and air quality in the borough. High levels of car ownership in streets with older houses without garages has contributed to parking stresses as off-street parking can be difficult in these areas.
The first three years of the five-year strategy, which is proposed to start in April 2017, will focus on the borough areas with the most parking problems. The borough’s current Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) arrangements will also be reviewed to assess if these on-street parking schemes are still fit for purpose.
The aim is to have a borough-wide parking management and enforcement policy that manages predicted demand for on-road parking and avoids a future where there are too many cars and too few parking spaces.
On-street parking has already been reviewed and residents consulted in the six local committee areas of Sutton Local; St Helier The Wrythe and Wandle Valley; South Sutton, Cheam and Belmont; Carshalton and Clockhouse; Cheam North and Worcester Park; and Beddington and Wallington. This follows an increasing number of enquiries from residents and businesses about problems with on-street parking.
The council has drawn up with a list of 170 parking hotspots throughout the borough, focused on schools and colleges, transport hubs such as railway stations, town centres, superstores, hospitals, council car parks and new development.