What is a controlled parking zone?
Visitor permits
Blue badge holders
What the permit allows you to do
Your duties as a permit holder
Where to apply
Renewing your permit
Withdrawal of a permit
New controlled parking zones

What is a controlled parking scheme or zone?

A controlled parking scheme or zone is a street or area where parking is organised in order to help residents park their vehicles. They are provided in areas where vehicles not belonging to residents would otherwise make this difficult.

Most schemes operate during the working day from Monday - Saturday. The times of operation are shown on the signs for drivers entering the controlled parking zone area.

During this period the majority of spaces are reserved for resident permit holders and visitor permit holders. Occasionally, limited waiting spaces are available to visit local businesses.

Outside these hours and on bank holidays, parking is uncontrolled except on double yellow lines.

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Visitor permits

Depending on the scheme type a visitor permit may be granted.

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Blue badge holders

If you have a disabled persons blue badge you can park in time limited spaces for as long as you wish and you may also park for up to three hours on single or double yellow lines. In both instances you must show your blue badge and time clock in accordance with the rules of the blue badge scheme.

You cannot park in resident permit holders’ spaces unless you also have a valid permit for the area.

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What the permit allows you to do

image - permit holders only The permit will let you park in any parking spaces which are reserved for permit holders. These spaces will be signed with this or a similar plate:

Visitors to the area without permits can park in spaces provided for this purpose. These spaces will be signed:

Where no limit of stay is applied:

Parking sign

Where there is a limited length of stay:

Time restricted parking sign

Your duties as a permit holder

It is your duty to ensure that:

  • Your permit is valid
  • Your permit has not expired
  • The registration number is correct
  • Your permit is used in accordance with the conditions of issue
  • The permit is clearly displayed within the windscreen of the vehicle.

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Where to apply

Please request an application pack by completing this application form. Packs will be sent out within five working days of receipt of a completed form. You will be required to enclose proof of residency (a recent bank statement, gas or electric bill, motor insurance, tenancy agreement or a letter from a solicitor with your name and address on it) and proof of vehicle ownership (copy of the current motor insurance policy) with the completed application pack. Please be advised that until you have a valid permit, Penalty Charge Notices are likely to be issued to your vehicle if you park within the Controlled Zone.

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Renewing your permit

You will be responsible for renewing your permit if:

  • Your permit expires - permits are valid for one year. Contact us 14 days prior to the expiry date
  • You change your vehicle. Contact us immediately to obtain 14 days temporary dispensation and return the old permit with your application for a permit for your new vehicle to this address:

    Central Processing Unit
    PO Box 9452
    Nottingham
    NG15 5BR

To renew your permit please complete this renewal form. If the details are verified, we will aim to send a replacement within five working days of receipt of the completed form. Please allow adequate time for the renewed permit to arrive and in the interim, you are advised that if you park within the Controlled Zone without a valid permit, you are likely to receive Penalty Charge Notices on your vehicle.

Alternatively, tel: 01623 434942 during office hours.

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Withdrawal of a permit

A permit may be withdrawn or invalidated if:

  • It is found that a permit is not being used in accordance with these guidelines
  • It is found that a person is no longer eligible to hold a permit
  • The permit is altered or defaced in any way or passed to unauthorised users.

Warning: Any person knowingly making a false statement to fraudulently obtain a permit is liable to a fine not exceeding £2,500 (section 115/2 Road Traffic Act 1984).

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New controlled parking zones

To request that your street is considered to become a controlled parking area you should put your request in writing to your local area Highways office. You may also like to include a petition from your neighbours requesting the street become residents parking only.

We receive many requests for residents parking schemes annually and will consider these against a number of criteria before responding. It would be helpful if you could include in your request the full details of the parking problems you are experiencing. However, residents parking schemes only work where the problem is caused by non-residents parking in the street; if the problem is generated by residents' vehicles, a controlled zone will not alleviate these issues.

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