PROPOSALS to increase residents' only parking in the streets nearest to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital are being drawn up.
Initial plans are to be presented to Exeter highways committee in January as Jill Owen, who took over as chair the committee in July, is determined to find a solution to the problem of visitors, patients and staff parking in residential streets.
Cllr Owen said: "I am disappointed to learn, since taking over as chair, that nothing seems to have been happening over the years about this.
"Nor does anything seem to have been done about the other important issue of finding a park and ride site on the north side of the city to cater for those coming in from the Crediton direction."
With regard to residents' only parking Cllr Owen said: "I had assumed that something would be done when there was money in the budget.
"However there is a six figure sum in the money which is raised through on-street parking and which has been used for similar schemes in other parts of the county – nothing has been done in Exeter which is the only part of the on-street scheme which makes a profit."
To work up initial proposals and go out to consultation and then take the scheme forward will cost £30,000.
Cllr Owen added: "We are all aware of the problem of displacement – one street gets residents' only parking and the problem rolls on to the next street but if you are going to the hospital the further away you get from it then the less attractive that is for parking.
"This is likely to be rolled out in phases with the streets nearest the hospital being done first. Roads such as Salters Road are definitely a priority."
Olwen Foggin, county councillor for Heavitree and Whipton Barton, said: "I think eventually the RD&E is going to have to built a multi-storey car park – I don't see any other answer."
Cllr Owen is also asking highways officers to take another look at possible sites for park and ride or park and share facilities to the north of Exeter.
She said: "I know it is difficult here because of the flood plain but even if we found a small site it would be something."
