COUNCILLORS are to discuss proposals to introduce parking restrictions on a residential road in Reading tonight – a move which would impact an amateur theatre.
At the moment, The Mount has a two-hour restriction in place on weekdays from 10am to 4pm. Under proposals, it would see a residents’ permit parking scheme introduced in line with much of Reading. Non-residents would be able to park for up to two hours between 8am and 8pm, with permits needed for overnight parking.
This would mean people attending shows staged by Progress Theatre, which is also based in The Mount, would not be able to park outside as they have done for many decades.
A decision on the changes will be made at the council’s traffic management subcommittee, which will take place at 6.30pm tonight (Wednesday, June 15).
Some residents welcomed the changes, saying that the existing rules denied them spaces, but others have concerns over the impact on the theatre.
Redlands area councillors David McElroy (Green), Kathryn McCann (Green) and Will Cross (Labour) held a residents meeting last month.
Cllr McElroy said: “The debate was mainly concerned with defining the problem. It was near unanimously agreed that it is not difficult to find parking on The Mount as a whole, with parking more difficult at the Lower Mount end.
“It was also largely agreed that the situation was not serious enough to warrant making the currently proposed changes to the waiting restrictions.
“The council is not willing to make substantial alterations to the current proposal at this point, so we will be recommending that the sub-committee rejects it at their June meeting. That is what we expect to happen.”
Proposals to add double yellow lines along the length of Shinfield Road could create a problem in The Mount, Cllr McElroy said. This will also be discussed at the same meeting.
Suggestions put forward by the councillors include the theatre allowing residents to use its car park out of hours and improving the terms of the metre parking on Cintra Avenue to help visitors to the theatre.
A car park on Sutton Walk would benefit from improved lighting, and there could be a negiotiation with the university to allow theatregoers to use its car parks.
Another suggestion was for the university to improve its parking affordability for administration and auxiliary staff, to encourage them not to park in The Mount.
