Local authority news Brighton & Hove charges change New parking charges have been introduced by Brighton & Hove City Council at some on-street locations and three off-street car parks. However, bigger increases in four areas of the city wont be going ahead. In October, councillors agreed to reverse plans to change four areas from a low to a high tariff. This included a controlled parking zone near the Royal Sussex County Hospital. A residents parking rate, a return to three hours free parking for Blue Badge holders, and the reopening of a park and ride are among the parking proposals published by Canterbury City Council for 2024/25. Essex revises parking standards guidance Essex County Council has held a consultation to revise the parking standards guidance for new developments across Essex. Feedback was sought from developers and local councils on guidance informing how parking is integrated into developments from garden communities to leisure and retail developments. See bit.ly/PNDec23EPC More parking for Newark Hospital Contractors have officially started work on a new 80-space car park for Newark Hospital, thanks to a partnership between Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and Newark and Sherwood District Council. The new car park is due to open in February 2024. York considers cashless The City of York Council has been seeking views on moving to cashless payment machines. Less than 14 per cent of people now pay for parking with cash. See bit.ly/PNDec23York Edinburgh announces date to begin pavement parking enforcement Preparations are under way to begin enforcement against pavement parking in Edinburgh, following the introduction of new powers by the Scottish Government. National regulations are expected to come into force on 11 December, and it is proposed that Edinburghs enforcement begins in January 2024. Councillor Scott Arthur, transport and environment convener, said: Implementing these new parking restrictions is part of our commitment to ensure Edinburghs roads and pavements are accessible for all. Making sure our footways are kept clear will deliver real benefits for pedestrians and road users, particularly those who are disproportionately affected, such as parents with pushchairs, older people, and wheelchair users. Preparations have included the assessment of 5,217 roads by officers as part of the footway parking assessment project. This has helped to identify a small number of streets where significant pavement parking may require mitigation measures to minimise potential negative impacts on the wider road network. Despite the prohibitions featuring in the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019, the regulations required to support the enforcement and appeals procedures have only recently been finalised by Transport Scotland, and are expected to come into effect on 11 December. Work to complete the necessary changes in Edinburgh will start as soon as it is confirmed that the new regulations have come into force. It is hoped an awareness campaign by Transport Scotland, which started on 20 November, will drive a change in behaviour over the festive period in advance of enforcement beginning. A further council-run campaign, aligned with the national approach, is planned once the new prohibitions take effect. 10 PN Dec 2023 pp10-11 LA News.indd 10 01/12/2023 10:48