You Said We Did Q&A Response

In 2024, as part of our Annual Town Survey, we invited members of the public to ask the Town Council a question. 

Over 120 questions were asked, and we feel it's important to respond. Throughout the next couple of months, we will publish information about the questions asked and provide resident's with a response.

27 questions with variations on a theme, were asked about parking and facilities in the Abbey Grounds.

Parking is a regular topic of concern, residents have shared about issues at the Annual Meeting of the Town and as part of Public Participation at a Council meeting. These concerns were considered by our Planning Committee and over the past year we have been gathering information from residents, as an evidence base to get Gloucestershire County Council (GCC) to carry out an on-street parking review across the whole of Cirencester.

There was one question about the need for parking enforcement being carried out, outside of the main town centre, and this is something we will raise with GCC.   

Other questions related to free parking. For those with blue badges we have worked with GCC to extend the number of disabled bay spaces and ensured that parking in Castle Street, Dyer Street and Cricklade Street is free of charge for the first 20 minutes.

Whilst charging in off-street car parks is now 7 days a week up to 6pm, there are many locations which offer free parking, particularly at weekends, for example the Council Offices at Trinity Road.

The primary purpose of local council car park charges is to manage and regulate parking within an area, ensuring that parking spaces are available for the public and used efficiently to prevent congestion. The parking charge covers the costs of maintenance, parking enforcement and administration.

One respondent to the Annual Town Survey, asked how we felt about people going to other locations to shop since car park charges have increased and post 3pm free parking has gone.

We don't want anyone to feel they have to shop elsewhere and when we have asked about parking through our Local Information Centre and town centre health check studies, most people have said that the charges seem fair and reasonable compared with other towns.

In Cirencester, the Town Council and Cotswold District Council conduct periodic surveys on the health of the town centre; this includes the impact of parking charges, as well as parking provision. Currently the health of the town centre is good, and the place is vibrant with year on year increases in footfall.

The questions asked about the Abbey Grounds related mainly to provision of additional facilities such as toilets near the play area and replacing the broken roundabout. 

We're pleased to say that after a very long time, we are now able to replace the roundabout and that the Abbey Grounds has been included within our Green Spaces Strategy for master plan funding and major improvement.

Whilst these improvements will be delivered over the longer term, short term funding for improvements to footpaths, which we hope will minimise the risk of paths being flooded, and play spaces across the whole of Cirencester, will be considered by the Council, as part of budget plans for 2026-27.