Agenda item

From 27 October 2014 to 19 January 2015 the Council consulted on a draft revised Wiltshire Local Transport Plan (LTP) Car Parking Strategy. Along with the draft strategy document, the consultation exercise also included:

(i)              Settlement questionnaires.

(ii)             Five focussed workshops held around the county with representatives of key stakeholder groups.

(iii)            Various consultation documents were issued which provided further information on parking, and parking related issues.

The specific questions on car parks included one possible charging option which was developed using a wide-ranging evidence base. Those responding to questionnaires could agree with the proposed option, indicate that they have no opinion, or could propose an alternative.

A sample of the initial results of the consultation is summarised in the report available to the Committee, and using the feedback a set of recommended charges for each settlement are being developed to propose to Cabinet.

The Committee is requested to note the initial results of the public consultation and comment on the proposed approach to revising the Wiltshire LTP Car Parking Strategy before it is considered for adoption by Cabinet.

From 27 October 2014 to 19 January 2015 the Council had consulted on a draft revised Wiltshire Local Transport Plan (LTP) Car Parking Strategy. A sample of the initial results of the consultation was contained in the report available to the Committee. Using the consultation feedback, a set of recommended charges for each settlement was being developed to be proposed to Cabinet. It was explained that a review of car parking strategy was required every five years to assess if it met needs in Wiltshire.

Matthew Croston, Project Officer, provided an overview of the consultation process which involved workshops, review trials, assets reviews and questionnaires, receiving over 5,000 responses. Richard Mortimer, Parking Services Manager, advised review trials had triggered increased use of those car parks involved in the trials and, through assets reviews, twenty car parks in county had been identified as a drain on resources. One possibility for car park management would be for communities to take on the car parks themselves. ‘Free parking’ was a popular alternative, dialogue with the public and parish/town councils to discuss how it could be delivered financially would begin in March 2015.

Cllr Mark Packard, the Chairman of the Car Parking Review Task Group, expressed confidence in the review. The Task Group considered experimentation in car parking charges necessary, in addition to expanding the ability to pay for parking by phone.  The Committee recommended mobile phone applications should be made increasingly user friendly to assist those hesitant to use this technology.

The Committee agreed dialogue with the community was needed to organise the funding of free parking. On-street parking was highlighted as a continuing issue and it was noted that enforcement against illegal parking was a Police matter. Members expressed satisfaction with the review process and considered the reasons for varying levels of response across the different community areas. The Committee recommended graphs in the report be alphabetized for ease of comparison by Cabinet Members.

The Committee reflected on the effect that co-joined leases had on the Council’s ability to charge for car parking and commented this was an important consideration. Division members from the Salisbury area requested to be involved in examination of Salisbury’s Park and Ride scheme and expressed support for engaging with train companies and for the development of a metro line for the city. Officers confirmed there would be a strategy to manage transport demands in Salisbury however this was a separate piece of work. Members agreed that parking charges should not be increased to a high level to deter use of the car and some Members considered whether all areas in Wiltshire should be subject to the same charges and whether the reductions in charges would go far enough. Councillors described the benefits pay-on-exit parking could bring and were advised this would be in place in new multi-storey car parks. It was agreed that where free parking was in place in towns it should be promoted to encourage visitors. The Committee was advised that information on all car parks and permits would be in the full report for Cabinet and details of revenue from parking penalties was available on the Wiltshire Council website.

Resolved:

To note the initial results of the public consultation and express satisfaction in the review.

To endorse the proposed approach to revising the Wiltshire LTP Car Parking Strategy with the following key comments:

·         Smart technology should be promoted to pay for car parking and should be made increasingly user-friendly;

·         Where there were options for hour/s of free parking this needed to be backed at a local level and promoted.

·         The effect of co-joined leases of car parks should be investigated.