Roads for Prosperity, 1989 white paper.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
Edinburgh councillors agree to Sunday parking charges
(67 posts)-
Posted 7 years ago #
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While I have a private garage for my own 1350kg monster, and so don't use road space to park it, I'd be concerned that I wouldn't be able to cycle anywhere if all the roads were converted into housing... Can people have a serious think about what they are suggesting, before speaking their branes (sic).
Posted 7 years ago # -
We have a private garage, but it's full of bikes. Oops.
Posted 7 years ago # -
My garage is full of bikes, homebrew kit, and DIY paraphernalia. In fairness it was also built in the 30s, and I've measured it up in the past for a possible classic car - it would fit a Mini, or a wee Austin A30, and at a push a Triumph Spitfire, but not much else (and not the Stag that I really want).
Fortunately I've also got the drive leading up to it.
Of course all of that will have been reflected in the price of the house, so I'm particularly put out by people having free parking ;)
Posted 7 years ago # -
Noting @ed1's piece. Most of the roads are built on land NOT owned by the roads authority, check your title deeds and you'll find that you usually own to the centreline of the road on which you are the frontager. I'm actually in the interesting position of owning bit of the pleasure gardens on the other side of the road .. and to the centre-line of the lane on the other side of the pleasure gardens. So literally I own the solim of the road outside the house.
The Council of course owns the road, but should it cease to provide a route between two public places, it could be de-listed and the land reverts to me. This position raises a few points
There is a clear long standing detail (around 600 years IIRC) that although the Council owns the road they do not own the land and this in law cannot make any profit from use of that land, so there is a clear challenge to any council making a profit from their on-street parking charges. The law is very clear on this, and it is why any surplus from parking charges must be spent on roads and transport.
The law also notes that the is no requirement for the council to provide roads for any purpose besides passing and repassing of traffic. Thus there is no need to provide or repair any roads which are not going to deliver a surface for moving traffic. By my reckoning, and observation of most roads after a light snowfall only about 50% of urban road space needs to be maintained for moving traffic - potentially handing back the land not required to the frontagers for garden extensions, private parking spaces, bike sheds etc.
Glasgow University took back a stretch of a road locally when they secured ownership of all the buildings in that street, and The Herald took back the North end of Renfield Street and a few linking lanes a few years back.
Going by recent freehold sales the going rental rate for a city centre off-street space should be at least £4000/year - probably closer to £5000/year if maintenance, lighting and security costs are added, and a comparative opportunity cost, based on the revenue per sq.m per year for other use of the space at roughly 25 sq.m per car (allowing for access as well as parking).
In premium areas of London a 'free employee parking space' costs around £9000/year. Shoe horn in a basement or multi storey car park and the cost per space really starts to hit - a cheap modular decked car park = c.£12,000/space, but of it gets technical £24,000 can often be a likely price per space. My jaw dropper price (to date is the £2.5m for 30 extra spaces (£83,000 per space, and a weekend parking cost of I recall of £2/day)
Given the cost of providing an employee parking space it may well be an option for many employers to give free membership of a car club, free membership of a bike hire scheme, and even a deal on a bus or rail pass, as a cheaper option per employee. Careful delivery of this employee benefit may be possible without a major tax penalty.
Posted 7 years ago # -
If You Build It by andy a, on FlickrHere is a map (click for big) of paid-for parking in Central Edinburgh. Show it to a councillor next time they start making noises about needing more/cheaper parking.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Noting @ed1's piece. Most of the roads are built on land NOT owned by the roads authority, check your title deeds and you'll find that you usually own to the centreline of the road on which you are the frontage. I'm actually in the interesting position of owning bit of the pleasure gardens on the other side of the road .. and to the centre-line of the lane on the other side of the pleasure gardens. So literally I own the solim of the road outside the house.”
This may well be the case, however if the council has control of the road and they are not legally obliged to offer a discounted rate to the owner then the argument would remain the same. The council would be subsiding residential parking by offering it at a lower rate than the market would support.
Posted 6 years ago #
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