Parking strategy

Our aims

Our work programme and future activity will be judged against the following principles and the success of our aims, which are outlined below. Our delivery and action plan is consistent with the activity outlined in the North Tyneside Transport Strategy.

Reduce carbon emissions from transport

We will seek to: 

1. Encourage a shift to more sustainable modes of transport
2. Improve environmental sustainability and support greater use of zero emission vehicles
3. Encourage and address increased demand to cycle, walk and wheeling.
4. Improve bus priority and support an integrated public transport network
5. Support a change in culture which prompts people to adapt their travel behaviour to use more sustainable forms of transport other than car travel 

To achieve this we will: 

1. Give priority to more sustainable transport in scheme design, e.g. bus lanes and cycling provision
2. Provide publicly accessible charge points for electric vehicles as set out in the North Tyneside ZEV Strategy
3. Improve the street network, prioritising cycling, walking and wheeling
4. Facilitate dedicated provision for ‘car clubs’, electric vehicles etc.

Improve health outcomes

We will seek to: 

1. Address safety issues around schools, e.g. through introducing ‘School Streets’ around more schools
2. Consider the safety of travellers across our network
3. Working with partners, seek to reduce pavement parking 

To achieve this we will: 

1. Continue to develop parking initiatives with respect to safety around schools
2. Take account of accessibility for people with limited mobility
3. Ensure that suitable enforcement action is carried out to address inappropriate car parking
4. Seek to further improve local air quality, e.g. discouraging engine idling through the Go Smarter initiative

Support inclusive economic growth

We will seek to: 

1. Make it easy to use cashless parking options
2. Improve consistency between the three historic town centres, e.g. operational hours of parking tariffs
3. Support the travel needs of tourists and visitors to the borough
4. Support the movement of freight and deliveries 

To achieve this we will: 

1. Continue to develop and introduce cashless parking options where appropriate
2. Develop parking initiatives which improve consistency between the three historic town centres
3. Consider seasonal variations to parking arrangements to support the vitality of town centres
4. Provide facilities for loading and deliveries as part of schemes
5. Continue the flexible parking approach on the Foreshore
6. Review charges on an annual basis

Manage transport demand and enable smart choices for all

We will seek to:

1. Enable residents and visitors to make a more informed choice regarding their parking destination
2. Continue to support the use of smart technology for information and payments.
3. Have an effective parking permit scheme in place
4. Manage future demand through integration between transport and land use planning strategies
5. Manage our transport network effectively, considering all forms of travel including public transport, cycling (including e-bikes), scooters, walking, wheelchairs and mobility scooters, horse riding, motorcycling, hackney carriages and private hire vehicles 

To achieve this we will: 

1. Provide improved and accessible information that supports an informed choice and meets users’ communication needs
2. Update our parking apps and technological systems when required to provide an effective service
3. Take a fair and consistent approach to all requests for changes to our parking schemes
4. Work with partners on matters such as bus lane enforcement
5. Review charges on an annual basis