Parking Regulations

Oral Answers to Questions — Infrastructure – in the Northern Ireland Assembly at 2:15 pm on 17 January 2017.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Keith Buchanan Keith Buchanan DUP 2:15, 17 January 2017

11. Mr K Buchanan asked the Minister for Infrastructure to outline proposals for safer parking regulations using street markings and the deployment of traffic attendants in towns across Northern Ireland, including Coalisland. (AQO 913/16-21)

Photo of Christopher Hazzard Christopher Hazzard Sinn Féin

My Department has the ability to regulate and control traffic using powers provided in the Road Traffic Regulation Order 1997. These powers include being able to both prohibit and restrict parking as well as providing parking places. We generally employ parking prohibitions or restrictions to resolve traffic progression and road safety issues in order to keep traffic moving safely and efficiently. A decision to provide any measure, whether it is intended to prohibit or restrict parking or indeed provide parking, will be based on local circumstances. Provision may also be part of an overall transport plan for an area.

Parking prohibitions and restrictions and parking provision are generally indicated on the road using traffic signs and road markings, which are prescribed under the Traffic Signs Regulations 1997 or otherwise authorised by my Department. As well as providing essential road-user information, traffic signs help to ensure that road space is used in the way in which it was intended to be used by facilitating enforcement by traffic attendants.

In the case of Coalisland, there are relatively few parking restrictions when compared with other towns. In the past, there have been numerous attempts to introduce parking restrictions. However, these were opposed by local people, local shop frontagers and public representatives. Mid Ulster Council is currently planning the delivery of a public realm scheme in Coalisland. During the development of the scheme, the provision of parking and the need for any restriction on parking will be reviewed.

Photo of Keith Buchanan Keith Buchanan DUP

I thank the Minister for his answer. Coalisland seems to have a lack of redcoats and to be the only town that I am aware of in my constituency and certainly across other areas in my colleagues' constituencies where the term "redcoat" does not exist. Can the Minister confirm to me whether there is a fear of redcoats in that town for whatever reason?

Photo of Christopher Hazzard Christopher Hazzard Sinn Féin

I am glad that the Member has done a survey of all the towns in his district to detect the number of redcoats and when they are operating. There are a number of reasons why this may be the situation. The Department's parking enforcement contractor deploys traffic attendants to any town or city that has parking restrictions. To maximise effectiveness and efficiency under the enforcement contract, traffic attendants are deployed to those places where they will have the most impact on road safety and/or traffic progression.

Coalisland has relatively few parking restrictions compared with other towns. My Department's parking enforcement unit carried out a short trial of enforcement in Coalisland on three occasions in 2016. That resulted in two warning notices being issued over the three visits.