24 hour films at Vue

Its Monday 27 July 2015, and Darlington Council has granted the entertainment/licensing application for Vue Entertainment Ltd, facilitating a 24 hour showing of films, and alcohol sales through to 0230 hours each morning, with a 0500 hrs late night refreshment licence for non-alcoholic drinks and snacks.

What does this mean for the terrace?

Sarah, Stephanie and I (who attended the hearing and made representations on your behalf) both conclude that the decision will inevitably affect the terrace in a number of ways. First, the issue of parking.

Whilst the new multi-storey car park in Beaumont Street will offer one parking option, it is clear that on-street parking in South Terrace (after the 6.00 pm residents' restriction) will offer major advantages to cinema-goers. By parking across the road here, they can avoid parking charges or restrictions - and can miss the exit crush as people dash to their cars at the end of a film.

With some screenings finishing in the early hours of the morning, this may result in disturbance in the street as Vue customers come to collect their cars, slam car doors and drive off.

A further issue relates to those who leave the cinema complex on foot. South Terrace back lane (both east and west) provides the first urinal, and Victoria Road a very likely exit point for pedestrians returning to the west end of town. We anticipate that night time screenings may result in a few sleepless nights for those with bedrooms at the back of their homes.

Clearly, the licensing committee was unimpressed by our representations, and on the balance of probabilities concluded that our concerns were disproportionate to the need for Vue Entertainment Ltd to trade throughout the night. Reminding ourselves that the licensing committee, Chaired by Councillor Cyndi Hughes with Councillors Sonia Kane and Brian Jones as wing members, are our elected members, it will now be important that we keep them in the loop of information should issues arise.

The key to dealing with any issue is to ensure that a proper record is made at, or about the time it arises. As evident at today's hearing, it is not enough simply to assert that there is or may be a problem. What is needed is evidence.

I suggest that where issues arise - whether in relation to the parking of cars or public order on the terrace - that residents make a prompt note of the issue and post details to our closed Facebook page or hand the note to one of the Resident Group's officers at no 23, 22 or 8. I am happy to collate the information if you wish me to do so.

In cases where the assistance of police is considered appropriate, residents should again record the incident and the police reference number, and pass the information on to us.

Returning then to parking - I propose that we make further representations to the council to extend the residents parking restriction to 24 hours. This would mean that, save for the limited number of non-resident spaces, on-street parking here on the terrace would become less attractive.

Dealing with the non-resident spaces, some of you will recall the 'Yellow Card' scheme proposed a few years ago. With the reduction of 'free spaces', a scheme like this has enhanced attraction.

Under the scheme, residents with permits to park are invited to take a 'free space' should one be available. The resident then has the option of placing their numbered card on the dashboard, indicating that, if asked, they will make their space available to another resident or their visitors. Simple as that! This way, we take control over parking on the terrace, rather than surrendering the terrace as an overflow car park for the town.

So, what else came out of the hearing? First, an agreed concession that alcohol sales will cease 30 minutes after the start of the last screening, or 2.30am, whichever is the earlier. Second, that alcohol sales are to be restricted to those who have purchased a cinema ticket. Third, that Vue Entertainment will post signs reminding customers of their proximity to a residential area and the need for consideration.

Some might say that we have wasted our time with our objection. Would they be right? Only time will tell, and much depends on the measures of control exercised by Vue Entertainment Ltd. If they get it right, we may be less affected than we thought; if not, your collective action in collecting evidence and re-organising our parking arrangements could become critically important.

Consultation on Parking - January 2015

On 5 November 2014, Brenda Bowles, Engineer Traffic Management for Darlington Borough Council emailed Stephanie and me to say,

"I have been passed your enquiries regards introducing extra resident parking bays in South Terrace.

We do already have this request on our list of requests. I am pleased to inform you that we are about to investigate all the requests we hold for extra resident bays in the Borough so we should be consulting every resident with a proposal by January. It is anticipated that any proposed new resident bays will be installed by Spring 2015.

The existing double yellow lines had to be re-instated following the work done by the developer, so that the lines comply with the traffic order. It is likely that some of these yellow lines could be removed to provide some extra resident bays. If these yellow lines had not been replaced cars would have parked across the dropped kerbs".

It is essential that South Terrace views are now heard and recorded by Darlington Borough Council.

Of course, we have the advantage of having already held our own South Terrace Residents consultation over the last 22 months. For your convenience, and that of the Parking Policy Officer at Darlington Council, I have copied a potted history of our consultations at the foot of this blog. This, however, is where we have reached -

The apparent consensus:

1. The 25 South Terrace households and 8 cottage residents insist that their views should be paramount when formulating parking arrangements here in South Terrace.
2. We have very limited parking here, making South Terrace a special case. South Terrace should be excluded from wider policy considerations relating to the town's provision for free on-street parking.
3. We currently have 30 spaces for 33 homes. 
4. Four new spaces can and should be created by adjusting the yellow line restrictions. They are: one free space at the south east end of the terrace (opposite nos 6&7) and three permit spaces at the south west side (opposite 8&9).
5. The justification for the above is that the pavement profiles have already been adjusted by the council to facilitate this.
6. This would increase total provision on the terrace to 34 spaces.
7. There are currently 19 spaces designated for residents with permits. This is insufficient.
8. 7 'free spaces' in the centre of the terrace should be reduced to 4, thus providing a further 3 permit spaces. 
9. The net effect would be:

• 30 current spaces increased to 34;
• 19 residents spaces increased to 25;
• 11 'free spaces' reduced to 9 (5 opposite nos 1-7), 4 centre terrace.

Effect of consensus:

Residents would have parking priority.

There would be 6 more spaces for permit holders.

There would be 9 'free spaces' available for visitors. 

Three new spaces for residents opposite nos 8-10

 

One new space opposite nos 6 & 7

___________________________________

Potted history of the debate about parking here at South Terrace has progressed collaboratively. 

Our first residents' consultation followed my blog here on 12 February 2013,

"We have a limited number of 'free spaces' that seem to be taken quickly each morning by non-residents who work in the town centre. Some apparently arrive and wait for a resident to leave so that they can park... I recognise that this comes at a price to residents, especially those expecting workmen or other visitors. I would like your suggestions as to how (if at all) this matter should be handled? Feel free to leave a comment at the foot of this posting if you have a view on the matter".

On 22 February 2013 we followed this up with our report on parking. We recorded that we had "30 parking spaces, of which 19 require permits - 5 at the bottom of the terrace, 6 in the middle and 8 at the top. This left 4 free spaces at the bottom right of the terrace and 7 in the middle section". 

By 1 March 2013 we were able to put forward your suggestions.

"Most residents agree that the yellow lines opposite nos 9-10 should, if possible, be reduced to give another two parking spaces.... If shortening the yellow lines is possible, another two residents' bays could appear overnight.

"It also seems to be agreed that the double yellow lines opposite nos 1-7 could be reduced to give the possibility of an extra space on the right side of the terrace..."

"Most residents seem to want to keep some 'free spaces' on the terrace. Their argument is that if all of the spaces are allocate or restricted to 'permit only' - family, friends and other visitors will be unable to park here at all. They are right, and it seems imperative that we retain some unallocated parking.
The question is - how many spaces should be for permits, and how many 'free'? The majority of you seem to think that the seven spaces in the centre of the terrace could be reduced to four; and all 4 of the spaces opposite nos 1-7 could be made permit only.
The net effect of this would be to increase the permit spaces to 26, leaving 4 'free' spaces in the centre of the terrace. If the yellow lines were decreased, the permit spaces would increase to 28. Bearing in mind that there are 25 households on the terrace and a further 8 at Pease Cottages, this would be about right".

 

Our next blog was on 16 July 2013 where we reported your two main concerns - that there were insufficient residents spaces for the number of permits issued; and that we face a large influx of non-residents who choose to park on South Terrace, rather than paying for parking across Victoria Road in the Town Hall or Beaumont Street car parks.

"Having paid for the privilege of parking, residents said that they should be afforded a space - and the current level of residents' spaces meant that those who paid were in effect subsidising the parking of those who enjoy a resource here without paying for it". "The consensus was that the scheme did bring benefits to the terrace - but that it needed adjusting".

This precipitated our letter to Paul Boyle,

"Over the past six months, the residents have been engaged in discussions concerning parking in South Terrace. 

Currently there are 30 parking spaces on South Terrace, of which 19 are designated for residents permit parking - 5 at the east end of the terrace, 6 in the middle section, and 8 at the west side. This leaves 4 non-resident spaces on the east side of the terrace, and 7 in the middle section. 

Two issues have been detected. 

1.          First, with 24 households and 8 cottages, and a number of households having more than one permit, there are insufficient residents parking spaces for the number of permits issued. Residents who now pay £40.00 per year to park in the vicinity of their home should be entitled to be able to access a parking space.

2.          Second, substantial numbers of non-residents attend each morning to take non-resident spaces that have been vacated by residents. These spaces are then occupied for the rest of the working day, to the exclusion of both residents and their visitors.

The South Terrace Residents Group has formulated a solution.

Resident parking designation

Whilst residents want to keep some non-resident spaces on the terrace for non-resident parking, we request that the seven non-resident spaces in the centre of the terrace is reduced to four; and all four of the non-resident spaces opposite nos 1-7 are to be made residents permit only.  

Yellow line restrictions

Residents would wish that the yellow lines on the west side of the terrace opposite nos 9-10 should be reduced, to give another one ..extra parking spaces there, and on the east side of the terrace opposite nos 1-7 to give one extra space there. We are aware of the council's concerns about parking within certain distances of junctions, but the local wisdom is that this should not be a problem here. 

The net effect of changes:

Without yellow line alteration - to increase the permit spaces to 26, leaving 4 non-resident spaces in the centre of the terrace. With yellow line alteration - to increase the permit spaces to 28 or 29, leaving 4 non-resident spaces in the centre of the terrace".

 On 23 September 2014 representatives from nos 6 and 8 South Terrace attended the council's parking consultation to pass on your concerns. 

We informed the council that the principal issues were that commuters enter the terrace after 8.00 am and stay until 5.30 pm for free parking. This puts pressure on the residents bays, and eliminates any chance of our visitors and tradespeople parking on the terrace. We said that we want more residents' spaces and better control over non-residents spaces.

Owen Wilson, Principal Policy Officer indicated that he understood both our concerns and our solutions, and that these would be reflected in the new policy.

End of Year Round-Up - and the Year Ahead

The South Terrace Residents blog has now been up and running for 11 months (starting on Sunday 10 February 2013). In this time we have tackled a number of issues close to your hearts: including crime, scams and SmartWater with the Darlington Neighbourhood Police team, Sainsburys development, the Esh housing scheme on the football ground, the new Terrace Hill cinema complex at Feethams North, parking in South Terrace, the Big Spring Clean 2013, South Terrace garden Spring and Summer competitions, departing residents and new arrivals, the demolition of the Feethams twin towers, and of course the important publication by South Terrace's own writer, Karl Bone.

I sense that 2014 is going to be a challenging year for us on the terrace. Esh have handled their part of the Feethams housing development with a degree of sensitivity - especially with the frequent updates on our South Terrace Facebook page, but will the same be true for Persimmon? How will Darlington Council respond to the development of 82 new dwellings on the Feethams estate? Will we get the Victoria Road pedestrian crossing point we have been seeking? Is the council going to address the parking issues we have raised?

With care and collaboration, South Terrace residents could be the beneficiaries of the recent and proposed changes. But to achieve this, our voice must be heard, and that voice should be a united one. We need to keep our group active, informed and involved.

I propose that we arrange a meeting early in 2014 to prepare an agenda for the year. Pending this, think about what you would like to see happen during the year, and what you most wish to avoid. This way, we can exercise a level of influence over the decisions that will or may most affect us.

Public Consultation on Residents Parking Zones

There are currently 15 residents parking zones in Darlington, stretching from Pierremont in the north west, Beechwood Ave / Green Park in the south west, Skerne Park in the north east, and Bank Top in the south east.

We at South Terrace and Pease Cottages are Residents Zone D. We are unique in Darlington as the smallest zone, and the only zone comprising one undivided street. Our's is the most sensitive area for parking, nestling on the edge of the town centre, being the closest to the Town Hall, the Market Square - and of course, the proposed Feethams North cinema complex development and Beaumont Street commercial area.

Your representatives from nos 6 and 8 attended the meeting tonight (23 September) to pass on your concerns arising from our own residents parking survey and discussions, held earlier this year. From that, the principal issues were that commuters enter the terrace after 8.00 am and stay until 5.30 pm for free parking. This puts pressure on the residents bays, and eliminates any chance of our visitors and tradespeople parking on the terrace. We said that we want more residents' spaces, and better control over the non-resident spaces.

We sense that the message was understood by Owen Wilson, Principal Policy Officer and his team. It remains to be seen what action, if any, will follow. 

If you have any further thoughts on the issue of parking, post your views here, or let either me or Stephanie know about them - and we will pass them on to the council.

September update on the terrace

New residents
We welcome our new residents to numbers 3 and 21. Congratulations on your choice of homes at no 3 and no 21. We hope you will be very happy here at South Terrace. Can we encourage you to sign up for the South Terrace Facebook group - it is a great way to get to know others here, and to keep abreast of the news that affects our community. Note, South Terrace has its own Neighbourhood Watch group. At present, all households on the terrace are represented and you will automatically be included.


Parking
There has been a yawning silence from Traffic Management at Darlington Borough Council following our enquiry concerning residents' parking. Here is a copy of our letter dated 15 July 2013:

"Over the past six months, the residents have been engaged in discussions concerning parking in South Terrace. 

Currently there are 30 parking spaces on South Terrace, of which 19 are designated for residents permit parking - 5 at the east end of the terrace, 6 in the middle section, and 8 at the west side. This leaves 4 non-resident spaces on the east side of the terrace, and 7 in the middle section. 

Two issues have been detected. 
First, with 24 households and 8 cottages, and a number of households having more than one permit, there are insufficient residents parking spaces for the number of permits issued. Residents who now pay £40.00 per year to park in the vicinity of their home should be entitled to be able to access a parking space.
Second, substantial numbers of non-residents attend each morning to take non-resident spaces that have been vacated by residents. These spaces are then occupied for the rest of the working day, to the exclusion of both residents and their visitors.
The South Terrace Residents Group has formulated a solution.

Resident parking designation
Whilst residents want to keep some non-resident spaces on the terrace for non-resident parking, we request that the seven non-resident spaces in the centre of the terrace is reduced to four; and all four of the non-resident spaces opposite nos 1-7 are to be made residents permit only. 

Yellow line restrictions
Residents would wish that the yellow lines on the west side of the terrace opposite nos 9-10 should be reduced, to give another one or two extra parking spaces there, and on the east side of the terrace opposite nos 1-7 to give one extra space there. We are aware of the council's concerns about parking within certain distances of junctions, but the local wisdom is that this should not be a problem here. 

The net effect of changes:
Without yellow line alteration - to increase the permit spaces to 26, leaving 4 non-resident spaces in the centre of the terrace. 
With yellow line alteration - to increase the permit spaces to 28 or 29, leaving 4 non-resident spaces in the centre of the terrace".

It is unfortunate that Traffic Management has not even acknowledged our concerns. If no response is received before the end of the month, I will take the issue up with Councillor Harman. In the meantime, if you are free, do go along on Monday 23 September, 5 pm at the Dolphin Centre - Public consultation on Parking Strategy focusing on Residents Parking Zones. They definitely need feedback from us about the shortfalls of our South Terrace Zone D.

Esh Development and the Cricket Club
Residents will have noticed that Feethams South to the Twin Towers has been measured and marked. The plan is to alter the approach to the new road that will skirt the cricket pitch. I propose to invite Paul Nicholson, Senior Site Engineer employed by Lumsden & Carroll, Civil Engineering to Esh Developments, to post news updates on the blog, or the South Terrace Facebook page. 

Additionally, although no planning application has yet been posted, we understand that the Cricket Club is proposing to implement some development at the club building. If you have any news on this, let us know by posting here on the blog, on Facebook, or by email.