Issue details

The purpose of this report is to seek Executive approval to allocate funds for the provisions of overflow parking for Burridge Village Hall.

Burridge Village Hall is a popular community facility in the village of Burridge.  It contains two large rooms which are well-hired by various community groups and by members of the community for private functions.  Adjacent to the Hall is a car park, containing 28 spaces, that is designated for use by visitors to the Village Hall and the neighbouring recreation ground and play park.

Many of the hirers of the Hall have minimal parking requirements.  However, at times when both the large rooms are hired for private functions, demand can easily exceed the number of parking spaces available.

Public opinion is currently being sought to determine support for the introduction of a Traffic Regulation Order for the car park to prevent identified space-blocking by vehicles associated with the nearby Cherry Tree Industrial Park.  Although this action would remedy day-to-day concerns regarding parking availability for the Village Hall, the Chairman of Burridge Community Association has expressed a view that only the ability to access additional parking would enable the Hall to meet the parking needs encountered by hire of the Hall for private functions.

Until the beginning of 2018, the Village Hall had been unofficially allowing visitors to park their vehicles on the gated rough track to the pond, on the perimeter of the recreation ground, at peak times of parking demand.  However, in January, following damage to the recreation ground from this unauthorised access, the Village Hall was reminded that they had no permission to access the track, and must discontinue this practice.

This report proposes that the installation of official overflow parking spaces to the southern side of the track to the pond, managed by the Hall through a formal agreement, would provide a swift resolution to the parking availability concerns while ensuring the protection of the recreation ground.