North Yorkshire Council

Executive

21 October 2025

Response to Residents Parking Petition for Back Dragon Avenue, Harrogate

Report of the Corporate Director – Environment

1.0       PURPOSE OF REPORT

1.1       For the Executive to consider the petition for residents parking on Back Dragon Avenue, Harrogate (official name ‘Dragon Road Rear (U1161)).

2.0       BACKGROUND

2.1       The Council’s petition scheme for parking issues was developed in accordance with the Department for Communities and Local Government Right to challenge parking policies, Traffic Management Act 2004: Network Management Duty Guidance (March 2015). In accordance with the guidance, a decision on the outcome of the review of the petition will be taken by the Executive.

2.2       The minimum number of signatories required to be a valid petition under the scheme differs depending on whether the issue relates to single/multiple streets or a whole village or town. Where the issue relates to a single street or multiple streets, then at least 20% of registered addresses within the affected area need to sign the petition. Where the issue relates to a whole village or town, then at least 3% of the total population needs to sign the petition.

3.0       DETAILED PRESENTATION OF THE SUBSTANTIVE ISSUE

3.1       In response to the petition, see Appendices A and B, 21 signatories out of the 50 households directly fronting the road which equates to 42%, it hits the threshold of 20% of affected households for further consideration as part of the Residential Parking Permit Policy. The local member Cllr Aldred is in support of the petition. The Location Map can be found at Appendix C

3.2       Officers have reviewed the petition which is a category 5 road (which are predominantly back streets to terraced properties) and whilst the street backs on to Dragon Avenue, it can and is used by residents of Dragon Road (E2), Dragon Avenue (E4), Dragon Terrace (E3), Back Dragon Road (unrestricted) and potentially others too. Following a review of the area there are concerns that any introduction of an extension to zone E4 to include this back street would restrict historic and legitimate parking by households and businesses. The same issue applies on the other ‘Dragon Road Rear’ between Dragon Avenue (E4) and Dragon Parade (E5) as we cannot designate it as two different zones.

3.3       Regard has also been given to Section 45 of the Road Traffic Regulations Act 1984 considering the need to maintain free movement of traffic, reasonable access to premises and considering the extent to which off street parking is available.

3.4       Concerns were also raised regarding the use of available parking by a nearby business and that some of those businesses were working on vehicles on the street. Highways have engaged with the Environmental Team to consider whether action can be taken under Section 4 of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005. This has been assessed and there is insufficient evidence that the business in question were conducting ‘restricted’ works in accordance with that Act to enable enforcement.

3.5       In line with the stage 1 assessment criteria in the Residents Parking Policy, the petition has not reached the minimum of 50% support, nor has an external funding source been identified for the scheme introduction and therefore is not recommended to commence to stage 2 of the process. A formal consultation on this proposal has not commenced, it’s been an officer review of historic information as the proposal doesn’t meet the requirements of stage 1 of the Residents Parking Policy.

4.0       ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED

4.1       No alternative options were considered as part of this report as it’s a response to a petition. The new county wide parking principles were adopted at the Executive meeting of 19 August 2025. As part of these principles, local area action plans will be developed allowing this location to be looked at again in due course.  

5.0       FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

5.1       For any new residents parking scheme a proposed scheme would need to be assessed, implemented and fully funded by a third party as there is currently no budget allocated to implement new residents parking schemes. This is highlighted on the NYC website regarding residential parking zones and permits.

5.2       No external funding has been identified as part of this petition.

6.0       LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

6.1       The Council has powers to introduce residents parking under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. In so doing it has to consider factors issues including traffic flow, access to premises and availability of off-street parking. Consideration has been made to any legal implications resulting from the recommendations of this report, but as the recommendation is not to proceed with any amendments to the existing arrangements, there are no legal implications.

7.0       EQUALITIES IMPLICATIONS

7.1       Consideration has been given to the potential for any adverse equalities impact arising from the recommendations of this report. It is the view of officers that the recommendations included in this report do not have any adverse impacts on any of the protected characteristics identified in the Equalities Act 2010 or NYC’s additional agreed characteristics. Equalities Impact Assessment screening form has been completed. (Appendix D).

8.0       CLIMATE CHANGE IMPLICATIONS

8.1       Consideration has been given to the potential for any adverse impacts on climate change arising from the recommendations of this report. A climate change screening form has been completed and included. (Appendix E).

9.0       REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS

9.1       Given the impact on both historical parking arrangements and the operational management of the network, designating these areas as residential parking would cause issues on the surrounding network. At the moment, these streets can be used as additional parking for multiple surrounding streets which may be oversubscribed during peak times and could detrimentally impact the commercial area directly adjacent the street in question. The petition has also not identified a source of funding for the scheme or reached 50% support so in line with the existing residents policy and has therefore not met the criteria for Stage 1. Officers do not recommend taking this petition forward for implementation in line with current policy. 

10.0	RECOMMENDATION
10.1	It is recommended that the Executive does not support the petition for new residents parking in Harrogate.

APPENDICES:

Appendix A – Petition

Appendix B – Evidence to support the need to permit

Appendix C – Location Map

Appendix D – Equalities Screening Form

Appendix E – Climate Change Impact Screening Form

BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS: Residents Parking Policy

Karl Battersby

Corporate Director – Environment

County Hall

Northallerton

02 October 2025

Report Author – Heather Yendall – Improvement Manager

Presenter of Report – Karl Battersby Corporate Director Environment