Author: The Strathbungo Society (Page 1 of 7)

Pavement Parking – how to avoid a ticket

A couple of weeks ago, we were contacted by residents of Vennard Gardens following a complaint from a person with a pram who was unable to use the pavement due to cars being parked on it at the Pollokshaws end of the street. As a result of the complaint, parking tickets were issued to vehicles parked on the pavement along the entire length of the street, if they left under 1.5m of pavement width. Cars parked on the pavement had previously been ticketed in Marywood Square after a complaint that one vehicle blocked someone’s front gate. This has caused a lot of confusion and anger amongst residents.

The Society asked the Council about this. In short, although Strathbungo is still ‘in consideration’ regarding pavement parking, until there is a full exemption agreed and signage to that effect per street, cars parked on the pavement will not be exempt from enforcement. The criteria for enforcement are a) The council receive a specific complaint and b) The vehicle(s) does not allow a pedestrian/wheelchair user to pass (defined as 1.5m, the minimum recommended width of a pavement).

So, please be mindful of where and how you park in the area. The Garden’s pavements are wider than the Squares (typically 1.75m) so please be sure to park with space to allow pedestians/wheelchair users to pass on the pavement. In the Squares the pavements are much narrower. Here the guidance remains more ambiguous, but be mindful that if you are parked close to a garden gate into a property, make sure there is plenty of space for residents to enter/exit their front gardens easily and safely.

For full information about pavement parking please go to GCC Pavement Parking Prohibitions

The council have sent us an abridged version as follows:

Assessment

Our assessment progress can be viewed on our interactive map, where roads are now coloured Red, Yellow or Blue.

Blue: Roads within future proposed parking zone boundaries
Status: Not being considered for exemption at this time. Any consideration for an exemption will be considered as part of the parking zone proposals.
Enforcement: Pavement parking enforcement will be carried out if: 1. We receive a specific complaint and 2. The vehicle(s) does not allow a pedestrian/wheelchair user to pass

Enforcement

The enforcement of pavement parking, double parking and parking at dropped kerb crossing points is underway. The enforcement team are now dealing with any issues as part of their reactive complaints process. The public can highlight issues with pavement parking, double parking and parking at dropped kerb crossing points through “reporting a parking problem”.

We reserve the right to enforce in any street, including those shown in yellow* on the interactive map, should any clear safety issues be brought to our attention, to comply with our duty to ensure public safety. E.g. vehicle(s) parking on pavements and forcing pedestrians on to the road to bypass the vehicle(s).

* This also includes streets shown in blue

Exemptions

Until such time an exemption order is implemented, it must be noted that no roads are currently exempt from pavement parking. However, enforcement will only be undertaken on these roads if vehicles are fully obstructing a pavement which would force pedestrians/wheelchair users on to the road to bypass parked vehicles, as outlined above.

Any further updates to Pavement Parking Prohibitions will be provided on the webpage and specific information on the assessment for streets in Strathbungo will be included in updates on the proposed RPZ for the area.

I trust this information will be useful in informing the residents of your community.

For clarity the map (previously purple and green) now has three colours:

Red: Pavement parking ban now being enforced (most roads)
Blue: Within a proposed future parking scheme (includes all roads in the Strathbungo Society area)
Yellow: Exemption being taken forward (rare, nearest are in Mount Florida)

Any further updates to Pavement Parking Prohibitions will be provided on the webpage and specific information on the assessment for streets in Strathbungo will be included in updates on the proposed RPZ for the area.

Nithsdale Road closure

From the council:

Nithsdale Road will be closed between the roundabout at Moray Place and Pollokshaws Road for environmental works on Tuesday 21st July. All vehicles should be removed from this area prior to 8am on Tuesday 21st July.

Neighbourhood Coordinator (Ward 6 – Pollokshields)
Neighbourhoods Regeneration & Sustainability
Glasgow City Council
Eastgate
727 London Road
Glasgow
G40 3AQ

Keep Our Back Lanes Clean

Dumping refuse in back lanes isn’t just unsightly — it attracts pests, creates health hazards, and impacts everyone in the community. What might seem like a quick solution can quickly turn into a bigger problem for your neighbours and the environment.

We understand that not everyone has access to transport to take bulky items to the tip — but there’s still a better option. Use Glasgow Council’s bulk uplift service to dispose of items safely and responsibly. It’s quick to arrange and helps keep our streets clean and safe for everyone.

Let’s all do our part:
✔️ Dispose of waste properly
✔️ Respect shared spaces
✔️ Contact the council bulk uplift

A cleaner neighbourhood starts with all of us 🌍

A battered cane sofa dumped at a lane end

Take a seat. To the dump, preferably.

Spring is coming, as is the newsletter

The latest newsletter is on its way. If it hasn’t made it through your door already, you can

Read it now!

There’s details of Window Wanderland, fast approaching, the date for Bungo in the Back Lanes in the summer, a parking update, a Brighter Bungo, and a bit of local history (if you call Australia local).

If you want to write something for the newsletter, or even better if you fancy helping edit it or laying it out, please get in touch.

You can also find the newsletter, and old ones back to the 1990s, at the BygoneBungo Newsletter Archive.

Bins & Parking Update

Society Response

The Society has been busy since the AGM, and has now submitted a response to the council based on your feedback and comments. You can still feed back yourself here until 15 December. You should use the code on your letter from the council if you have it, but the survey can be completed without it.

We wrote thus

To Kevin Argue and the Transport Projects department:

Please find attached the Strathbungo Society’s response to Glasgow City Council’s proposed changes to bin collections and parking arrangements within the Strathbungo Squares, Roads, Streets, and Gardens. As a community organisation representing local residents, the Society has gathered extensive feedback, concerns, and objections from those who will be directly affected. These views are reflected in full within the attached document.

The Strathbungo Society vehemently objects to the proposals as currently presented. Residents have expressed deep concern regarding the impact these measures would have on the character of the area, the quality of life within our conservation neighbourhood, and the daily practicalities of living, working, and travelling in Strathbungo. The proposals, in their current form, fail to take into account the unique constraints of the area, the heritage considerations, and the strong and well-evidenced views of the community.

We urge Glasgow City Council to reconsider these plans and we are committed to working collaboratively to help find solutions that address the Council’s aims while preserving the safety, accessibility, and historic character of the area.

We trust that the Council will give full and serious consideration to the attached submission and to the clear objections raised by the community.

Kind regards

Paola Rezzilli
Chair, the Strathbungo Society

The Society’s response can be read in full below.

Strathbungo Consultation Response

Meetings

Meanwhile, the Society had an online meeting with the council regarding the bins. The council still wishes to find a solution to the issues they face collecting from the lanes between Nithsdale Road and Queen Square. The following was agreed

  • The council recognised the opposition to on-street bins and does not intend to proceed with these at present.
  • Glass bin collections will cease (we think just for the affected lanes). Glass collection uses specialist large vehicles that don’t fit in the lanes. Local bin collection points will be provided instead. The council has proposed bins at the Pollokshaws Road end of Regent Park Square and Queen Square, and beside the roundabout by Bossa/1 Moray Place.
  • Some have suggested resurfacing the back lanes, but that is likely to meet objections from both planning and other local residents, so is not thought to be an option.
  • Discussions will continue regarding alternative solutions. The Society has suggested investing properly in smaller vehicles since it became apparent in the meeting that they currently borrow smaller vehicles from other departments. If that fails, there is still no obvious solution.

Continue reading

Strathbungo Parking Survey

When we first got wind of the council’s plans for change to bin collections and parking controls in Strathbungo back in the summer, we conducted a survey of local residents. This was advertised through our usual digital channels and through various local WhatsApp groups.

We received over 200 replies, with a real balance of opinions, but the take-home points are:

1. The pavements aren’t fit for purpose, because they are already too narrow, and blocked not just by cars but by hedges too. This is particularly so in the Squares and Moray Place.

2. Residents are either happy walking in the road, or feel it is necessary. Many consider it a positive aspect of life in Strathbungo, and many would continue to do so even if pavement parking was banned.

3. Thus it makes more logical sense to create a Home Zone, where pedestrians have priority in the roadway, rather than banning pavement parking.

4. Motorists need to be deterred or prevented from parking across property entrances however, especially if pavement parking is permitted.

5. A parking permit scheme is not popular; most parking is residential anyway, and it was not thought it would improve parking provision. There was little evidence it would reduce the number of cars owned by residents.

6. There is concern that a permit scheme might increase conversion of front or back gardens for parking. The option might not always be available, but 35% of respondents said a scheme might encourage them to do this.

7. On-street central bin stores are deeply unpopular, and steps to enable continued collection from rear lanes were a clear preference.

8. Any solutions need to consider the need for EV charging infrastructure, if EVs are to be more popular.

 

You can read the parking survey results in full. They will be discussed at the AGM on 4th November.

UPDATE: No sooner do we post than the council publishes the full consultation. You can see it here, though loading the plan as a pdf is a struggle. You can access an alternative version here – it is a vast improvement and zooms instantly (thanks to Paul Hart for doing this).

 

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