|
04/08/2008 10:05:10
|
Gloria
Posts 29
|
The people of south Manchester have a problem. The residents in West Didsbury want their council to initiate permit only parking on the streets of their suburb because they say parked cars from individuals visiting local bars, pubs, and restaurants are congesting their streets. The bottleneck is so bad that some residents are threatening to move out of the area if the council does not take action.
"The residential streets are constantly jam packed with cars parked up by people visiting local restaurants and bars" says Kevin Grey, a resident of Tintern Avenue in West Didsbury. "We love the bars and restaurants here; it’s not a case of being negative about them, but we need a more effective parking scheme." What Grey and fifty other area homeowners want is a “residents only” parking permit system for the neighborhood, reducing the amount of consumer parkers in the area. Other residents are not so sure that permits are the answer. Andrew Simcock, an 18 year resident of Knight Road in Didsbury said "I’m not sure that parking permits would be the right answer for us, but the congestion needs to be reduced some way."
The complaints about street congestion due to patronage of these establishments comes even after Manchester put forth a proposal to place a ban on the opening of new drinking establishments last year. In the past fourteen years twenty new bars have opened in Chorlton alone, and Coun Newman stated "Unless there is a ban, bars will keep opening and our high streets will become a real mess." The ban would have stopped the potential owners from gaining approval for their new businesses right off at the planning and licensing phase.
Surprisingly, even some pub and bar owners support the plan. "There are a ridiculous amount of bars in Chorlton already...it should have been introduced a long time ago" said Tom Desantis, who manages the Abode bar on Wilbraham Road in Chorlton. Not so surprisingly, other establishment owners oppose the idea. "I don’t think a ban is very fair. If somebody wants to open a bar then they should be able to do so," says Sim Brooks from The Bar. The Bar was the first Chorlton bar opened, and that was back in 1993.
So, what’s the answer? Would a ban on new establishments help relieve parking congestion on nearby residential streets? Would enforcing "residents only" parking regulations free up more spaces for neighborhood inhabitants? Is this just another instance of area residents causing a stir over the bar scene? What if parking restrictions and bans on new establishments were enforced; what would be the result on the entertainment scene as well as the local economy? What about the right to open an establishment, as Sim Brooks points out? Shouldn’t entrepreneurs be rewarded for their ambition? What about the residents? If they don’t like what the area has become, should they just move out?
|
|
04/08/2008 14:16:57
|
A.B.
Posts 25
|
I wonder if there are there enough spaces around this area for the residents?
|
|
05/08/2008 20:00:32
|
|
Guest
|
Well of course the existing owners support the ban! They don't want any more competition than they already have!
|
|
06/08/2008 14:50:54
|
Arthur W.
Posts 25
|
Shutting down commerce to help ease parking restraints just doesn't make sense.
|
|
06/08/2008 14:54:42
|
Thomas Dankins
Posts 21
|
What about ride services such as taxis? These people at the bars shouldn't be driving after drinking anyway
|
|
08/08/2008 13:54:42
|
|
Guest
|
If people can't get to these places they can't spend their money there. Then how happy will the neighborhood be?
|
|
08/08/2008 13:56:11
|
Jenny Bean
Posts 19
|
What about something like a meter? They could use the money to make a new parking lot or garage, something like that.
|
|
08/08/2008 13:58:54
|
Leslie Andrews
Posts 37
|
Well, I'm sure they won't get the permits for free. The question is, is this a temporary solution because there will only be a certain number of permits allowed, or is this part of a bigger answer such as Jenny suggested.
|
|
08/08/2008 14:01:37
|
Nick S.
Posts 18
|
I'm not entirely familiar with the area discussed in this post, but I'm pretty sure if they take away the parking for patrons the local economy will suffer.
|
|
08/08/2008 14:03:31
|
Suzie Q.
Posts 19
|
Telling people they can't open businesses isn't the answer. If they can't do it there they will go somewhere else, and that isn't something the council of Manchester won't like the effects of that.
|
|
11/08/2008 16:06:22
|
|
Guest
|
If the blame for the excessive traffic is customers, perhaps the council can set up some kind of alternative transportation plan or some kind of incentive for not parking in residential areas.
|
|
12/08/2008 14:42:01
|
A.B.
Posts 25
|
But that still goes back to the issue: if they can't park on the street, where can they park?
|
|
13/08/2008 18:18:47
|
|
Guest
|
What about hours of operation? Would that help this issue at all?
|
|
14/08/2008 18:39:45
|
Joanne
Posts 10
|
I think this is a good idea. The traffic gets controlled, the council gets some extra money, the residents will have spaces, the patrons still get to visit their favorite establishments, and everyone should be happy.
|
|
19/08/2008 23:24:22
|
A.B.
Posts 25
|
I dunno; it seems too simple to work!
|
|
10/09/2008 02:36:26
|
|
Guest
|
do it real make diff?
|
|
13/09/2008 02:38:05
|
A.B.
Posts 25
|
Well, I think obviously to those that live in the area, patrons who frequent these establishments, and the owners bringing money into the area it is very important. When problems like this arise, if they are not taken care of diplomatically and quickly, everyone can suffer.
|
|
pages:
1 |
|---|