Agenda item

Rob Murphy, Wiltshire Council will be feeding back on the results of a consultation on parking policy across the county.

Cllr Dick Tonge, (Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport) updated the meeting on the feed back of the results of the consultation on parking policy across the county.

Points made by Councillor Tonge included:

• It was necessary to review car parking policy as the move towards Wiltshire Council had brought together four policies from the former district councils.

• Parking policy went beyond just charging and was an important part of the local transport policy (e.g. improving street scenes, reducing traffic conflicts and supporting bus services).

• There had been 600 responses to the consultation and 5,000 comments made.

• Countywide responses on the objectives of the strategy, banding and town council opportunities showed:

o       Overwhelming support for economy as most important objective.

o       Next highest support for meeting residents’ needs for parking.

o       Majority support for concept of banding towns and proposed land-use zones.

o       A small majority disagree with proposed bands.

o       A large majority agree that town and parish councils should be offered ‘buy back’ and car park management opportunities.

• Countywide responses on parking charges recorded that:

o       The majority selected ‘conventional’ (lowest) parking charges option.

o       Some respondents disagreed with all three options (e.g. wanting to keep parking free in small towns).

o       Little enthusiasm for proposed Sunday parking charges.

o       Small majority support for the proposed way of reviewing charges.

• Countywide responses on residents’ parking showed:

o       Significant support for more pragmatic approach to residential parking in new housing developments.

o       Overwhelming support for policy and process on residents’ parking zones.

o       Large majority support for policy on overspill parking in residential areas.

• There was overwhelming majority supported the council’s approach to parking enforcement.

• A large majority stated that council should continue to offer season tickets.

• In Bradford on Avon, key responses had been that:

o       Each town has different characteristics and needs.

o       Strategy needs to be flexible enough to deal with special schemes such as the Historic Core Zone proposal.

o       Lack of public parking provision on north side of town.

o       Inadequate parking provision for residents – situation will get worse with Kingston Mills development.

o       There was a need to cater for needs of tourists.

• It was planned that following the area board, cabinet would consider the consultation responses and feedback form area boards in December. Statutory procedures would take place from January – March. Changes would be implemented from April 2011. 

Points made from the floor on the future of Bradford on Avon car parking included:

• Sunday parking charges, free in some towns, but not in others.

• The review document does not appear to clarify where parking is justified.

• On street parking is a good way of calming traffic.

• Would like to see long stay parking leading into the historic core zone.

• Residents parking is vital on the north side of the river.

• Potential parking issues when new residents move into the Kingston Mill site.

• Town centre residents were struggling with a one hour zone.

• The county should have uniform parking fees.

The Chairman thanked Cllr Tonge for his update and attending the meeting.