Cardiff Council proposes plan to ban student houses from being able to buy parking permits

Cardiff Council has proposed a plan in which students living in Cathays could be banned from buying parking permits.

Any house in which all residents are students will no longer be eligible for a parking permit, the proposed scheme will require permit-holders to have a council tax number.

This comes as they plan to make changes to parking throughout the city. One reason for the plan is to reduce the impact of students’ vehicles on local residents, as residents are often unable to park close to their homes.

A survey has been put out allowed people to comment on the plans.

In one section, titled “R5: ‘Student-Only’ properties will not be eligible for Parking Permits”, survey users are asked whether they agree or disagree that those who don’t pay council tax due to their student status should be able to purchase permits.

Furthermore, according to Cardiff Council, the student permit measure has been put forward so that the parking permit system “system isn’t abused”.

The council also noted that houses converted into HMOs may also not be eligible to buy permits. For houses in existing parking zones, if the home was converted after 1st September 2011, under the new scheme those living there would not be eligible for a permit. In the proposed new parking zones, this would be houses converted after 1st September 2024.

On popular student Facebook page, Overheard at Cardiff University, an anonymous person posted shared the R5 section, saying: “Cardiff Council is planning to make significant changes to parking throughout the city.

“One of these changes is to NOT ALLOW ANY PARKING PERMITS TO BE ISSUED TO ANY HOUSE THAT IS FULLY ZERO COUNCIL RATED. THIS WILL AFFECT ALL STUDENT HOUSES.”

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Many responded with shocked and angry reactions to the post, and one person commented: “If I pay road tax I’m allowed to park on the road. End of.”

However, the proposed parking plan isn’t just focused on student parking but also looks at reorganising the city’s parking zones, as well as non-permitted areas.

Additionally, the council is aiming to promote the use of active and sustainable travel by students through its proposed plan.

A consultation regarding this issue is open until the 1st December 2024.

The survey can be found here.

Cllr Dan De’Ath, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, Climate Change and Transport said: “Parking across the city has increasingly become an issue for many residents who are finding it harder and harder to park outside or near their own homes due to high numbers of commuter traffic.

“This ability for commuters to come and park in the city for free is leading to air pollution and congestion which our residents are suffering from.”

He continued by saying:  “So, what we are proposing here is a complete overhaul of the on-street parking policy by creating a ‘zonal approach’ within Parking Management Areas so we can better manage and enforce the car parking spaces available so that the system isn’t abused.”

The Cardiff Tab contacted Cardiff Council for comment, a spokesperson said: “The council encourages everyone to take part in the parking consultation. The proposals could have a significant impact on student parking and we are engaging directly with student bodies at the three universities in the city to ensure students are informed and that they are made aware of the opportunity to take part. In addition to the wider-ranging consultation, there will also be an opportunity for students to respond directly to the parts specific to them.

“An information sheet aimed at students, containing a QR code for easy access to give their views, will be distributed through the universities’ channels. Part of the council’s aim is to look at ways in which we can better promote active and sustainable travel within the city. We urge everyone to take part in the consultation so their voice is heard.”

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