Council to consider funding design of Residents’ Parking Zone in Stowmarket

A report going before cabinet on 11 February sets out the difficulties that residents have raised regarding nuisance parking in the town and recommends using £25,646 to progress to the design phase of a proposed RPZ.

This type of scheme involves formally restricting parking by only allowing those with permits to park within marked bays of certain roads. Restrictions can be in place at all hours of the day or for a defined period.

The power to establish an RPZ belongs to Suffolk County Council as the highways authority, but this proposed funding from Mid Suffolk would enable the development of a detailed plan, to understand the scheme’s feasibility, costs and potential impacts.

Cllr Andy Mellen, leader of Mid Suffolk District Council, said:

“We recognise that parking is a real issue for some Stowmarket residents, so we are stepping in to try to help Suffolk County Council, as the authority with ultimate responsibility for on street parking, find a possible solution.

“A recent survey of residents showed that a majority felt that an RPZ could be the answer, so we are proposing to fund feasibility work to better understand how any scheme might work and ensure everyone can make an informed decision.”

The area currently under consideration for an RPZ includes the following roads and streets: Bond Street, Bury Street, Cardinals Road, Church Walk, Creeting Road West, Crown Street, Edinburgh Close, Elizabeth Way, Fox Court, Hamilton Road, Milton Road North, Regent Street, Stowupland Street, Stowupland Road, Union Street East, Union Street West and Victoria Road.

The scheme, if it goes ahead, would then form part of a wider review of parking within Stowmarket as part of Mid Suffolk District Council’s parking strategy, agreed in 2022.