PARKING CONTROL: FROM PRINCIPLE TO PRACTICE. PROCEEDINGS OF TRL PARKING SEMINAR, UNIVERSITY OF SURREY, GUILDFORD, 23-24TH MARCH 1995. THE DEVELOPMENT OF PARKING POLICY IN THE CITY OF SWANSEA

This paper describes successive stages in the development of a parking policy for the city of Swansea in South Wales. In 1991, after a study, West Glamorgan County Council and Swansea City Council produced a Strategy for Swansea City Centre, whose proposals included a target of 9000 public car parking spaces by 1996. Following public consultation, the two councils adopted revised transport policies and proposals, including seven principal parking policy objectives and nine policies for implementing them. In September 1993, they commissioned a Swansea Parking Study to: (1) identify existing parking areas; (2) determine the strategy's effects on parking; and (3) consider how to minimise the deterrents of lack of parking to visitors to the city. The study examined Swansea's central commercial zone and an outer mixed residential and business zone. It was found that: (1) there could be a shortage of car parking spaces by 2001; (2) available spaces need to be used better; and (3) on-street parking spaces should be better enforced. A revised strategy was designed to address these issues. It included: (1) extra spaces in peripheral park-and-ride sites; and (2) a Car Park Information System. The paper outlines its progress to date. For the covering abstract see IRRD 871940.