Cheltenham parking zone to go live after 'problems and delays'

A new parking zone will be put in place in a town after the council said it had resolved problems with the scheme.

The scheme in Cheltenham has been criticised by residents who have questioned the need for it and say they were not properly consulted.

Opposition to the plans led Gloucestershire County Council to delay but it will now begin on 15 December.

The council has apologised for the "delays and problems" with implementing the new parking scheme.

Warning notices will be issued in advance of the scheme starting and it will be enforced with fixed penalty fines when it begins.

To compensate for the delay, the county council has extended all annual permits purchased before December 2023 and residents who bought a pay monthly permit will be compensated.

There will be no enforcement in the zone from 24 December 2023 to 1 January 2024 inclusive, to alleviate residents' concerns about visitors over the festive season, the council said.

Leader of the council, Mark Hawthorne, said: "We're very grateful to residents for their understanding while these outstanding issues were being resolved and I'd like to thank them for their patience.

"I'm confident that it will make the lives of residents easier by helping them find parking spaces close to their homes and not displacing parking to neighbouring streets.

"However, we will review the scheme in autumn next year when we will look closely at all feedback from residents."

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