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Bath & North East Somerset Council | ||||
MEETING: |
Bath Recreation Ground Trust | |||
MEETING DATE: |
5th OCTOBER 2007 |
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER |
8 | |
TITLE: |
Review of Parking Policy and Operations |
EXECUTIVE FORWARD PLAN REFERENCE: | ||
E |
1701 | |||
AN OPEN PUBLIC ITEM | ||||
List of attachments to this report: | ||||
1 THE ISSUE
1.1 Parking and other unauthorised use of the Recreation Ground is becoming a growing problem. This report examines potential solutions to resolve this issue.
2 RECOMMENDATION
The Bath Recreation Ground Trust is asked to:
2.1 Authorise advisers to bring forward the measures set out in the report subject to a further report being made to the Trust to confirm costs and detail.
3 FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
3.1 Solutions have cost implications for the Trust as follows
> Cost of marking out parking bays.
> Installation of bollards and further fencing to prevent unauthorised vehicular access.
> Fees payable in association with the policing of the parking restrictions.
> Fees associated with the locking and unlocking of access gates.
> Cost of providing signage
3.2 Full costs of providing these solutions will be provided to the Trust prior to any commitment being made.
4 REPORT
4.1 The Council's Open Spaces Team manage the day-to-day operational issues in respect of the Recreation Ground. They have reported an increase in unauthorised parking at the Recreation Ground and growing use of the facilities without bookings, some causing damage to areas of the Recreation Ground, especially in the evenings and weekends.
4.2 There are existing arrangements in respect of parking at the Recreation Ground as follows:
> Bath Rugby have the facility to use 20 spaces outside of their leased area for which 50 permits are issued.
> On match days they make arrangements to park up to 200 cars on the laid out areas, which they marshal.
> The club have to make further application for parking associated with events run by them
> Parking is available in association with booked activities
> The Croquet Club have an area within their lease demise, which is used for parking.
> Contractors are employed to clamp unauthorised vehicles
4.3 The terms of the Trust encourage the use of the Recreation Ground for Open Sports recreation and other entertainment. This does not require the Trust to make the recreation ground available for general casual use. In liaison with the Trust Board it was agreed that small scale casual use of the Recreation Ground was appropriate by individuals or small groups, so long as this use did not interfere with booked events.
4.4 The gates to the Recreation Ground have, in the past, been locked at night, but in more recent years this arrangement has ceased and access is, therefore, not restricted.
4.5 Open Spaces have found it very difficult to enforce parking arrangements due to mixture of agreements. Some parking takes place on the outfield as barriers have been knocked down.
4.6 Casual use of the outfield, in particular, has grown and there are occasionally large groups of people taking part in what appear to be organised groups. On occasions they have, for example, removed the barrier surrounding the cricket square and used it, causing damage. Again, because there are no formal procedures for this type of use, Open Spaces staff have found it difficult to manage this type of use.
4.7 There is no public Right of Way across the Recreation Ground, but some members of the public are currently making use of the paths around the site. This use should be curtailed and controlled.
4.8 It is therefore suggested that the Trust adopts the following measures to seek to control the unauthorised us of the Trust's property.
> Withdraw all existing arrangements for parking.
> Enter in to a new agreement with Bath Rugby to govern their use of the Recreation ground for Parking. As existing this agreement to restrict the Club to 20 spaces with 50 permits available for the use of these spaces.
> The car park adjacent to the Club's demise to be marked out with bays.
> Instruct the existing or a new contractor to clamp any cars without a permit or not parked in the marked bays.
> The upper car park to be secured against entry by use of a lockable bollard. Use of this car park to be restricted to users associated with a confirmed booking.
> Existing barriers preventing vehicular access to the outfield to be repaired and/or replaced.
> The gates to the recreation ground to be locked each night and unlocked in the morning. Consideration should be given to keeping the turnstiles locked at all times.
> Casual use of the recreation ground to be restricted by number.
> Signage to be provided indicating restrictions
5 RISK MANAGEMENT
5.1 The present arrangements make the day-to-day management of the Recreation Ground very difficult. Allowing them to continue makes it likely that car parking and other unauthorised access will continue and grow.
6 RATIONALE
6.1 Arrangements that are clear and workable need to be put in place to prevent further unauthorised use of Trust assets.
7 OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED
7.1 None
8 CONSULTATION
8.1 Open Spaces, Deputy Section 151 Finance Officer
9 ISSUES TO CONSIDER IN REACHING THE DECISION
9.1 Are set out within the report
10 ADVICE SOUGHT
10.1 The Council's Monitoring Officer (Council Solicitor) and Section 151 Officer have had the opportunity to input to this report and have cleared it for publication.
Contact person |
Rob Scott (01225) 477906 |
Background papers |
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