YORK’S Respark schemes need a major overhaul to sort out the problem of commuter parking and long waits for communities which want restrictions, Green party councillors say.

Blanket restrictions should be introduced on all terraced streets where parking is tight, but the charges should be halved from the current standard rate, they have said.

At the moment, there is a waiting list for new residents’ parking schemes, meaning that neighbours who ask for restrictions around their homes face extended waits before council staff even start surveying people in the area about possible schemes.

Cllr Andy D’Agorne, who has supported some residents in his Fishergate ward to ask for Respark schemes, said it’s time for change in the 25-year-old process.

He said: “We should be looking at ways to streamline this process and implement all schemes where there is a majority support within a year.”

“A blanket system covering all terraced streets would probably be acceptable to most car owners for a fee of £1 per week (£50pa). This would help to deter students from bringing a car to York and send a clear message to those commuters currently using city streets as a free car park that they have to use the park and ride or pay city centre parking charges.”

He added: “We have a congestion and pollution problem in York, and those driving into the city to park in side streets are adding to the problem rather than using the official car parks or the excellent park and ride system.”

He made his pleas at a transport decision session held by council leader Ian Gillies, when people on Albemarle Road were putting forward their plea for a residents’ parking scheme. Commuters parking on their street frequently leave people either blocked in to their drives, or unable to park near their own homes, they said.

The request initially came for the stretch of road outside numbers 15 to 37, but staff agreed to extend that to the whole of Albemarle Road after hearing from another resident.

Cllr Gillies said he had seen successive Respark schemes introduced pushing free parking streets further and further out of town.

The streets around Albemarle Road and Knavesmire Road in particular frustrate him a lot, with indiscriminate parking and vehicles displaced further and further out of town, he added.

According to a report prepared for that meeting, there are now 11 requests for Respark restrictions in the system, and they typically come to fruition at a rate of two per year.

Cllr D’Agorne also asked about a new Local Transport Plan - which council staffers said could come once the Local Plan is confirmed.