A Reading dad’s plea for an extra parking space for his family has been rejected.
Venelin Venelinov lives in The Meridian apartments in Kenavon Drive with his wife and two young children, aged six and two.
Although the family has one parking permit, they’ve so far been unable to secure another one to make life easier for them.
On-street parking permits require the approval of Reading Borough Council.
He said: “I’ve lived at The Meridian for over 12 years. During this time, the area has become increasingly commercialised.
“Streets that were once free to park in have been turned into pay-and-display or private permit-only zones, and the council has introduced no viable alternatives for residents like myself.
“Despite living here for over a decade and relying on my car daily for nursery and school runs, work, and family commitments, I’ve now been refused a discretionary parking permit which I have appealed unsuccessfully three times.
“This decision has come despite the fact that my wife was granted a discretionary permit under the same household circumstances in 2015—a decision which the council now claims does not set a precedent.”
Mr Venelinov then argued the Kennet Wharf development for 765 flats has put even more pressure on parking in the area.
He said: “Those residents who were informed that they couldn’t own a car without a dedicated parking space—yet many have cars anyway.
“This puts additional pressure on already limited and disputed parking availability.
“This situation raises a broader question: how can the council continue to allow dense residential development without putting in place the infrastructure or flexibility needed to support it?
“Long-term residents are being pushed aside, ignored, and penalised while the area is reshaped around commercial interests.”
His request has been raised to the council.
In response, a council spokesperson said: “While some flats in The Meridian development came with off-street parking, others did not.
“The surrounding roads are public highway and a residents’ parking scheme did not exist.
“Pay and display parking was introduced in Kenavon Drive in 2014, and the council later amended the scheme to allow parking permit holders as well.
“A scheme for The Meridian residents without their own parking was also provided, permitting one discretionary permit to these households.
“A discretionary permit has already been issued for the household in question and a second would only be issued in exceptional circumstances. While we understand the applicant’s concerns, their situation is not considered to fall within this category.
“While new developments have been approved and built in the area, they are not part of the parking permit scheme and therefore do not have the right to park within the permit parking spaces.”
