Consultation to include yellow lines in care worker parking scheme begins
Currently, an exemption permit allows care workers and other health care staff to use on-street pay and display parking, limited waiting and residents parking for no charge if they are delivering essential services to residents in their own homes.
A Traffic Regulation Order (advertised from 1 August 2019) proposes to extend this exemption to include parking on single and double yellow lines – but only when alternative parking isn’t available.
The proposed extension of the scheme recognises that in some communities parking can be limited and can add to the stress of an already demanding job.
Devon County Council proposes to launch this enhanced scheme from this autumn on a trial basis. This will allow care and health workers visiting people we support/patients at home to additionally use yellow lines in certain circumstances for up to an hour.
The care or health professional will have to have made a reasonable effort to find alternative parking first, and park where it is safe to do so.
The vehicle must not cause an obstruction, block access or pose a danger to road users, for instance on a corner.
As part of the improvements to the scheme, permit holders will be issued with a time clock, similar to those issued to Blue Badge holders, which must be displayed while delivering their services.
If the scheme is approved, all professionals and care companies, who currently hold permits, will be invited to apply for the new updated permit time card later this summer.
The existing exemption permit will be phased out from the autumn and all holders will be required to display the replacement time clock permit, at all times when they are delivering services.
If a care worker works for a charity or care company it will be the responsibility of that organisation to apply for the permits, to allocate them and manage their use.
However, if the care worker is self-employed, for instance a personal assistant (PA), they are required to first register their details on the PA Network (on Pinpoint Devon) before being able to apply for a permit themselves.
This will help ensure permits are issued only to the health and care professionals who need them.
The proposals follow an online consultation last year. Of the 150 people who responded 89 per cent agreed that including yellow lines in the scheme would make their jobs easier and 80 per cent said it would help them care for their clients.
Almost 65 per cent said it would help them manage stress and most said that parking near their clients’ homes would help them feel safer if they were working alone.
Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Management, said:
“The present exemption scheme has been a great success, but I recognise that parking in some communities continues to be difficult and driving around trying to find a parking spot can add to the stress.
“This was a common theme from care workers in our consultation last year and that’s why I endorsed plans to look at how we can further improve the scheme.
“If you have a view about our proposals we’d like to hear about it.”
Councillor Andrew Leadbetter, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health Services, said:
“Health and care workers help some of the most vulnerable in our communities and improve their quality of life by helping them stay in their homes for longer.
“By providing the flexibility they need, it will make it easier for them to do their jobs.
“It’s no secret that the care sector is under pressure. These plans will help care and health workers to arrive at their appointments in good time.
“This will improve their access to clients living at home and ultimately benefit the whole community.”
How to comment on the consultation
You can provide feedback until Thursday 22 August 2019.
The proposals are part of a statutory consultation running between 1 August 2019 and 22 August 2019.
Objections and other comments specifying the proposal and the grounds on which they are made must be in writing to:
County Solicitor
County Hall
Topsham Road
Exeter
EX2 4QD
or
Complete the comments form here, by 22 August 2019.
If you make a submission please be aware that your contact details and any points contributed may be made publicly available online and in other formats in accordance with our legal obligations. Receipt of submissions may not be acknowledged but those received will be considered and shared within Devon County Council and our partners.
The Traffic Regulation Order is available to view on our parking web pages.
Have a question?
You can email our Highway Management Traffic Orders – Mailbox highwaymanagementrafficorders-mailbox@devon.gov.uk with other queries relating to this parking scheme, which are not comments for the consultation.