Brook Court residents appeal to council for help in solving parking crisis

Brook Court residents David Tovey (left) and Roger Grimshaw.

Residents of an apartment complex in Bradley Stoke, who claim they have been provided with only half the number of car parking spaces than are actually needed, have appealed to the town council for help.

Representatives of the residents’ association at Brook Court, a 50-unit ‘later living’ development recently constructed on Savages Wood Road, near the Three Brooks public house, told councillors at the January Planning Committee meeting that the 18 spaces provided at the site are “inadequate”, meaning that many residents and visitors are forced to seek parking space elsewhere.

Roger Grimshaw, secretary of the association, explained that the problem had become worse since the nearby Willow Brook shopping centre had imposed a four-and-a-half hour restriction on parking.

He added that there are currently 16 residents on a waiting list for reserved parking spaces at Brook Court and said there was concern that the shortage of spaces might make the apartments less attractive to potential buyers when the owners come to sell.

David Tovey, chairman of the association, said that despite having one of the reserved spaces himself, he often had to drive round neighbouring residential streets to find a parking space when he has visitors, having allowed them to use his allocated on-site space.

Concerns about inadequate parking at the development were raised by local residents at the planning application stage in 2011, but these were dismissed by McCarthy & Stone (the developers) and South Gloucestershire Council who claimed that the close proximity of local services and the elderly nature of the development’s residents would result in a low level of car ownership.

However, Mr Grimshaw pointed out that the complex had been marketed as being for ‘later living’ rather than ‘assisted living’ and therefore it should have been anticipated that levels of car ownership would be higher.

Mr Grimshaw told The Journal that McCarthy & Stone have responded by negotiating the use of eight parking spaces in the car park of the adjoining Three Brooks public house and a small number of spaces at the far end of the Willow Brook Centre car park, although both of these agreements are understood to temporary in nature.

Making it clear that residents on the waiting list would be prepared to pay for a guaranteed parking space in the immediate vicinity of the complex, Mr Grimshaw asked councillors if they were aware of any possible sites that could potentially be used for parking, even on a temporary basis.

The possibility of using the vacant plot of land opposite the nearby Tesco filling station was suggested, but Cllr Keith Cranney explained that it is currently being investigated by its owners, South Gloucestershire Council, as a possible site for self-build housing. If that did not come to fruition, it was likely that the land would be sold off for residential housing, at a price in the region of £1 million. Cllr Cranney also suggested that residents look into using ‘rent your drive’ schemes, which have become popular recently.

The town council agreed to write to McCarthy & Stone (with a copy also being sent to South Gloucestershire Council).

Brook Court, Savages Wood Road, Bradley Stoke, Bristol.

Photo #1: Brook Court residents’ association representatives David Tovey (left) and Roger Grimshaw.

Photo #2: Brook Court complex viewed from Savages Wood Road.

This article originally appeared in the Bradley Stoke Journal news magazine, delivered FREE, EVERY MONTH, to 9,250 homes in Bradley Stoke and Little Stoke.

Share this page:

6 comments

  1. Shouldn’t they (the residents) have thought about this before they bought a flat there…. Why is it the councils problem? I’d like an extra space on my drive, can the council sort me out too? Thanks SGC

  2. That’s not a fair comment, it is tightly packed round there. The rent your drive scheme is a desperate and insulting response to new residents who will undoubtedly contribute to the local economy. It really is a cold shoulder remark and it’s about time SGC started thinking more about potential space is BS more seriously instead of £££, as the property developers won’t!

  3. Surely if you are a motorist and intend to purchase a flat, then the first thing you look into is if the property has a parking space allocated?

    With regard to the parking at Tesco, the new rules on staff parking and time limits do seem to have made a very positive change to the availability of spaces, and, after all, the last thing you want when you are trying to go shopping is the spaces all taken up by local residents who treat it as their private car park.

    Are there parking restrictions at the Leisure centre? because if not, they may want to look into having some, as I suspect thats also going to be abused.

  4. Love the strategy – move in to your flat knowing there is limited car parking space, and then complain to try and up the value of your property. If only the council were smart enough to realize…

  5. This development was built bearing in mind that the residents will be over 65, entitling them to free bus travel. The bus is at Tesco. Library and leisure facilities just over the road. Shopping just round the corner within walking or wheelchair distance. Residents really don’t need a car living here.

    Its all on the door step.

  6. The blame for this lies with the developers and the council for allowing such limited parking in the first place. Same old story. Get the most bucks out of it, and to heck with the consequences.
    And, of course, the buyers should have checked out the parking situation when looking to buy, and shouldn’t have gone ahead with the sale if there wasn’t sufficient! Simple. Stop moaning after the fact.

Comments are closed.