Frequently Asked Questions (Formal Consultation and Modifications Period August 2022 - November 2022)

A Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) is a legal document that restricts or prohibits the use of a highway network, in line with the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. The objective of a TRO is to help manage the highway network by improving road safety and accessibility to facilities. 

TROs must follow strict guidelines, set out by the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions (TSRGD).

Before a TRO can be put in place, there are statutory processes that needs to be followed. This includes a fair and robust consultation. Often, as is the case for these proposals, several rounds of consultation will be undertaken in order to gather views to help shape and review the proposals.

You can read more about the TRO process on our website: What is a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO)?

The waiting, loading and parking alterations are being proposed under section 1 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (RTRA 1984) which allows GCC to take action to ‘preserve or improve the amenities of the area through which the road runs’.

Formal TRO Consultation Parameters  

As the highway authority GCC is responsible for the introduction of TROs on the highway, including the enforcement of the restrictions once in place.

However, once a (formal) TRO consultation has started, it cannot be used to introduce new restrictions:

New restrictions not advertised (i.e. we can’t add any new road/s - not show on the interactive map)

Increase a restriction (This includes type, length and times: For example, we can't increase a limited waiting parking bay into Pay & Display; or a length of restriction of double yellow lines can’t be extended; nor can the days or times of operation be extended, for example we can't add the weekend, if we only proposed Mon-Fri, nor can we increase the times from 8pm to 9pm)

Conversely, as part of the TRO consultation, you can:

Remove restrictions that we advertised –(This means some roads might be removed if feedback suggest the zone is too big or certain roads near the edge of the boundary don't want to be included.  We can also remove a specific type of restriction - see reducing a restriction)

Reduce a restriction – (this includes the type, length and times; When reducing the type of restriction the changes can only make the restriction less restrictive. So for example, we can reduce a Pay & Display to limited waiting or reduce the physical length of restriction; Or the days or times of operation can be reduced, for example we can removed the weekend, if we proposed Mon - Sun, days can be removed, or timings can be reduced for example from 8pm to 7pm).

Therefore, by way of establishing the most appropriate TRO design, we often propose the most expansive version of the design, to comply with the consultation TRO paraments. This means as part of the TRO consultation roads and restrictions can still be removed, based on the feedback you provide on the detailed TRO proposals.  

Parking surveys were carried out across Gloucestershire in 2020. The surveys took place across two weekdays and two Saturdays, with counts being taken during the AM-peak, inter-peak, and PM-peak for each day. This was undertaken for Cheltenham before a UK wide COVID-19 lockdown took place as well as during the lockdown in late May and early June. The results of these surveys indicated that current parking restrictions in the county are not being used in the most efficient way and there can be improvements made. Please follow this link to view the outcomes of parking survey from 2020.

Since adopting our Resident Parking Policy (2011), the Council has been working on schemes to introduce Permit Parking Zones in many parts of the county.

As many communities have expressed concerns about on-street parking, from the impact of long stay non-resident parking, in residential areas where kerbside space is in very high demand.

We believe the situation could be improved by implementing a permit parking scheme and would like to understand local people’s views.

Benefits of permits schemes include:

• Effectively managing parking within a permit scheme, can help balance the kerbside demands of various users who compete for the same space.
• By protecting space for residents (with permits) so people can find space close to home;
• By ensuring we have ‘Shared use’ parking we can accommodate short-stay visits (usually 2 or 4 hours) that support local businesses; and
• By removing long stay commuter parking, we promote active travel, alongside ensuring its safe for walking and cycling, by removing parking that is too close to junctions and crossings.

More information on parking in the county can be found here. The changes are also in line with ambitions set out in Gloucestershire's Local Transport Plan.

• To make parking provision within Gloucestershire County Council appropriate for the demand.
• To ensure parking is prioritised for those who are residents of the area.
• To address the Climate Emergency.
• Parking permits will discourage commuters from driving and parking during the daytime in residential areas for work and encourage more active travel such as walking or cycling, or public transport if they are unable to access easy parking.
• Parking will still be available in off-street car parks but these will be pay and display.
• This parking review is also looking to support NHS staff parking on-street, with designated bays for access by NHS staff (with an active on-street permit) 

Permit schemes apply across a zone, typically containing 10 - 15 streets. Local residents and businesses can buy permits which allow them to park unrestricted on any of the streets in that zone. In most cases, vehicles from outside the area are also allowed to park, but are limited to a maximum stay, usually 2 - 4 hours, or required to pay for parking. This prevents all-day commuter parking, freeing up spaces for local people and short-stay visitors.

Note: you only need to buy a permit to park a vehicle on-street. if you park off road or don't have a car, you don't have to buy a permit.

Visit this GCC Page for more information.

The aim of the scheme is to make sure you would have a greater chance of finding a parking space in your neighbourhood. The operating hours of the scheme would be set to address local pressures such as evening / weekend attractions. You would need to have a permit to park on-street in your neighbourhood during the operating hours of the scheme. You would be able to park a maximum of two cars per house on-street in your neighbourhood. You would need to buy visitor vouchers for visitors staying for long periods, but it is assumed the limited waiting (time limits for non-residents would be suitable to carter for most visits).

• You would have greater chance of finding a parking space in your neighbourhood.
• The operating hours of the scheme would be set to address local pressures such as evening/weekend attractions.
• You would need to have a permit to park on-street in your neighbourhood during the operating hours of the scheme.
• You would be able to park a maximum of two cars on-street in your neighbourhood, during the operating hours of the scheme.
• You would need to buy visitor vouchers for visitors staying for long periods

It is proposed that the scheme will operate Monday - Sunday, between the hours of 8am - 8pm.

Allowing visiting vehicles to park helps support local businesses. Visitors to local residents can also park for a short time without using a visitor voucher. Visitors without a valid visitor voucher may park for free in shared use limited waiting bays and pay to park in Pay and Display bays for the specified hours shown on the sign. 

Visitors with a valid visitor voucher are exempt from having to pay in Pay and Display bays and the time limit shown on the sign in both shared use limited waiting bays and Pay and Display bays.

Limited waiting for non-residents means, anyone can park in the bay for the time limits set out on the signs. After that they would need to move away (the No Return), or risk getting a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) (also known as a parking ticket).

The parking management in a permit area is designed to support the neighbourhood where some roads are likely to be more congested than others, allowing the permits to operate over a larger number of roads spreads out the parking pressure within the neighbourhood. Parking is managed and enforced to ensure the scheme is operationally efficient.

Therefore, different roads are subject to differences in no return times due to the type and level of demand for parking on each road. The length of parking allowed will be subject to local amenities, such as schools, hospitals and retail centres. Demand for parking on specific roads may also be lower due to the distance from Cheltenham city centre and have a lower turnover of visiting parked cars, allowing longer limited waiting hours.

The permit costs are set at County level and support the operation and enforcement of the scheme. This enforcement ensures that the permit scheme operates correctly and improves parking conditions within the permit zone. The cost of the first permit is £61.80 for the year, which can be paid monthly (£5.15 – the equivalent of £1.18 a week).

The cost of the second permit is higher – as a means to manage numbers. The cost for the second permit is £123.60 for the year, or £10.30 monthly. 

Eco Cars (VED Band A) lower emmisions vehilces are discount by ~50%, suppporoting the Climate Change Strategy. 

Visitor vouchers can be purchased in sets of 10 (until a maximum of 50) for £13.00 per set. Though these are only needed if you have someone stay an extended period who can’t use the shared use parking. Given the scheme operating hours are focused on the daytime period there is no need for vouchers overnight.

An overview of the costs (for the current 2022/23 FY) per permit type are shown below.

For more information on the cost of permits, please see this leaflet.

A one-way restriction is also proposed in a south-easterly direction along Duke Street and St. Anne’s Terrace to improve the flow of traffic, reduce congestion and increase safety on these roads and the surrounding area. Cycles will not be exempt as the roads are too narrow to accommodate contra-flow cycling. Cyclists will, therefore, have to abide by the one-way restriction.

It is proposed that a small number of Pay & Display bays will be introduced along Keynshambury Road, Priory Parade, London Street, Oxford Street in order to support the turnover of spaces used by visitors and to allow more people to access businesses in the area.

Although a Zone 2 bay on London Road is included to be revoked, Zone 2 itself will not be revoked as the border of Zone 2 does not intrude beyond the southern pavement of London Road. The affected bay is shown on the Overview of Existing Restrictions map in the 'Find out more about the proposals' section

All of your comments will be recorded and emailed to the Consultation Team for consideration in shaping the permit scheme area. The website will be accessible between 4 August - 16 September for you to view and make comments.

Your feedback will be used in the next stages of the TRO process (see FAQ on 'What is a TRO?'). Information about the parking proposals will also be available on our website.

Your road will become liable to displacement. Cars which do not want to park in the proposed Cheltenham Zone 15 will be more likely to park in your road if it remains unrestricted. A zonal approach was used when constructing Cheltenham Zone 15 to reduce the impact of this displacement.

Yes, from the feedback, several cul-de-sac’s wanted to be removed. As a cul-de-sac, is less likely to be impacted by through traffic, GCC has considered this in making the modification to the Zone 15 scheme. Whilst acknowledging, the roads may still become liable to displacement.

Only the following cul-de-sacs are proposed to be removed, with all other roads in the Zone 15 scheme unchanged: All Saints Terrace; Jersey Avenue; Keynsham Bank; (Along with the Private or Unadopted Roads parts) of Landor Gardens; and Selkirk Close.

No, your road will be removed from the proposed Zone 15, meaning you can’t buy permits. There will be no changes to parking in your road, meaning no new lines or signs.

There will be a sign at the beginning of your street which specifies to all incoming cars that they are now entering a PPA, except in signed bays, which covers the entirety of the street. Only residents with permits can park on-street outside of a signed bay within a PPA, as long as this is not over double yellow lines.

In signed shared-use bays, non-permit holders can park for free for the limited waiting time specified (2 or 4 hours depending on your road). Carers, tradespeople, friends and family will be able to use these bays. Permit holders can also park in these bays without the time restriction.

No, for example, if you have your own driveway and do not require on-street parking then you do not have to purchase a permit. Only residents who require on-street parking must purchase a permit within the proposed zone.

The modifications consultation period ran from 7th November 2022 - 28th November 2022 for residents (of the 9 roads included in our 'letter to cul-de-sacs') to feedback if they would like their road  excluded or included within Cheltenham Zone 15. If your road is removed there will be no new review in this area for several years, as GCC has a programme of reviews across the county.