Deadline for Residents’ Comments on New Parking Permit Scheme This Friday

Published on: 22 Aug, 2023
Updated on: 25 Aug, 2023

Paper residents’ parking permits in Guildford will be replaced with virtual permits if a proposal by Surrey County Council is approved.

A deadline for public consultation has been extended until Friday, August 25.

If the “virtual” permits are approved there would be no visible indication in or on a vehicle that it can legitimately be parked in a resident-only parking space so members of the public could not easily tell if a vehicle was parked legitimately.

A virtual permit would be recorded electronically. Parking enforcement officers use electronic devices to scan licence plates to check if the car has a valid resident or visitor parking permit.

It is hoped that by making the change the county council, which took back control from the borough and district councils for on-street parking in April, will make efficiency savings by scrapping the more labour-intensive administration of the paper scheme.

The SCC webpage where you can register your views. Click here to link.

If given the go-ahead the virtual resident and visitor parking permits would continue to be rolled out progressively across Surrey and introduced in Guildford in September when existing permits come up for renewal. A contract for the management of the service has already been awarded to NSL, part of Marston Holdings.

Already anyone applying for a new permit will be issued with a virtual’permit. However, the plan is that carers’ permits – which are often shared amongst a number of carers – will remain as paper.

Cllr Fiona Davidson

Fiona Davidson, the R4GV county councillor for Guildford South East, said: “I have some reservations about the impact of virtual permits in Guildford town centre.

“I believe that, within Surrey, Guildford is exceptional, because of the large numbers of visitors who frequent the bars, shops, restaurants and other facilities, the limited amount of resident parking, and the large number of residents who live very close to the facilities used by visitors.

“However, I am told that virtual permits have been introduced in other towns in Surrey and elsewhere, without any significant issues.

“The consultation will allow residents to have their say, and I would encourage all residents impacted by the changes to contribute”

Click here to take part: Guildford Virtual Parking Permits and Waiver Certificates – Surrey County Council – Citizen Space (surreysays.co.uk)