Agenda item

          The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director Policy and Resources regarding parking issues around the Stobart Stadium, Halton on match days.

          It was noted that the housing estates and associated roads around the Stobart Stadium were built around 1930, when car ownership was low and hence was not designed to include off street parking within the properties. On most days, even when a match was not taking place there were parking problems particularly on the narrow roads due to the lack of off street parking and increased level of car ownership.

          In February 2011 St. Helens RLFC began playing their home matches at the Stobart Stadium whilst it awaited the completion of its new Stadium in 2012. This resulted in effectively two away teams of Super League status and following, playing at the Stadium. The combined number of visitors had resulted in increased traffic volumes in the residential areas beyond what may have been experienced in the past and increased the demand for on street parking.

          Consequently, a number of complaints were received from local residents who had experienced a range of problems or who had expressed concerns about the ability to access the estate and its properties. These concerns had been echoed by the local Ward  Members and the Local Area Forum, but the number of complaints had only increased significantly since St. Helens had played here for a few weeks.

          Members were advised that beginning in February 2012, Widnes Vikings would be playing their home matches generally on a Sunday afternoon at 3 pm and it was hoped that a large number of more local supporters would either walk to the Stadium or be dropped off away from the immediate area. St. Helens would also no longer be playing here and hence there should not be two away teams and the associated traffic volumes and demand for parking to cater for. 

          Prior to St. Helens beginning to play at The Stadium the waiting restrictions on surrounding roads were reviewed to reduce the need to put out “No Waiting” cones for matches to improve road safety and to reduce recurring costs of putting out cones and remove the potential for misuse. As a result, new restrictions were implemented.

          Following a number of complaints Halton Council’s Traffic Division and Cheshire Police visited the area and Cheshire Police issued fixed penalty notices where appropriate. In response to the complaints received a summary of the following Options to control parking had been investigated and were listed as follows:-

·       Match day parking restrictions on new roads;

·       No Waiting cones on selected streets within Kingsway estate;

·       Parking on pavements;

·       On street physical parking restrictions (e.g. bollards etc.)

·       Residents only parking

·       Review all potential parking areas within a reasonable distance of The Stadium.

Members were advised that it was unlikely that the most recent problems reported to the Council would be resolved with the departure of St. Helens RLFC. However, it was possible that they may be alleviated to some extent as demand for on-street parking hopefully would reduce. It was, therefore, proposed that the parking situation in the vicinity of The Stadium continued to be monitored, once the new Super League season started, in order to firmly establish where problems may be occurring. It was further proposed that potential solutions to these problems continue to be explored and evaluated to establish their feasibility. Any potential solution was likely to have costs associated with them and it would be necessary to determine what these were and how they could be funded.  

          RESOLVED: That

(1)            the temporary increased demand for on-street parking, associated with St. Helens playing its fixtures at The Stadium be noted;

(2)            the measures already taken to control parking on surrounding streets be noted;

(3)            the situation continue to be monitored, especially once the new Rugby League season commenced;

(4)            options to address any persistent parking problems resulting from matches at the Stadium, including additional Traffic Regulation Orders, be explored and evaluated in order to establish their feasibility; and

(5)            proposals that were deemed to be feasible and had identified resources to fund them, are consulted on (where appropriate) in order to obtain the views of those directly affected.