The Chairman will provide an update on action taken in response to the petition presented to the Area Board at its meeting on 4 July 2011.
Parvis Khansari, Service Director for Strategic Services, will provide information on the comparative car parking revenue statistics as requested by the Area Board at its meeting on 4 July 2011. Discussions will include:
· Information on season tickets (particularly for workers/volunteers)
· The independent traders refund scheme
· Town Centre viability
· Contributions from the Chamber of Commerce
· Question and answer session with Councillor Dick Tonge, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport.
Minutes:
The Chairman provided an overview of the petition that was presented to the Area Board on 4 July 2011. The petition raised concern at the increase in car parking charges in the town centre, and the detrimental impact this was having on the local economy.
The Chairman explained that the petition had been presented to the meeting of Wiltshire Council on 20 July 2011, and in response the Council had resolved that a report be presented to its next meeting on 8 November 2011 on a county wide review of car parking. Ahead of this, a report was due to be considered by Cabinet at its next meeting on 18 October 2011.
In response to the petition, the Area Board had also requested that comparative statistics be provided on car parking revenue and the number of car parking tickets sold throughout May, June and July in 2010 and 2011. Councillor Dick Tonge, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, and Parvis Khansari, Service Director for Strategic Services, were both present at the meeting to present that information.
Background
Councillor Tonge explained the rationale for the review of car parking charges across the County. Prior to the formation of the Unitary Authority, there was inconsistency across the County in the levels of car parking charges being implemented. In response to this, Wiltshire Council carried out a full review and consultation on all matters relating to car parking and subsequently produced a new policy in the form of the Local Transport Plan Car Parking Strategy.
The new Strategy included the ‘banding’ of towns according to their size and retail offerings. Salisbury was classed as a Band 1, Chippenham and Trowbridge were classed as Band 2, and the other market towns were classed as Band 3 or 4 depending on their size.
The Local Transport Plan Car Parking Strategy was agreed by Council in February 2011 and it was agreed that it would be reviewed after one year. This had now been brought forward and a review was currently being prepared as outlined by the Chairman. The review would cover the economic situation, the footfall and evidence of car park usage and revenue.
Comparative Statistical Data
As requested by the Area Board at its last meeting, Parvis Khansari presented comparative statistical data in relation to car parking revenue and the number of car parking tickets sold in relation to Chippenham town centre car parks.
The data presented showed a decline in the amount of car parking tickets sold since the increase in charges, and a rise in the level of income generated by Wiltshire Council.
Season Tickets
Councillor Tonge provided information on the available options for season tickets for car parks in Chippenham. There were a range of options including premium, standard and contract tickets, and business could also purchase non-vehicle specific tickets that could be shared by employees. Up to 65% discount was available on season tickets, and the prices had not increased so it was not currently clear why the usage of season tickets had reduced.
Car Park Redemption Scheme
Parvis provided some information on this scheme, which would involve independent retailers offering discounts against car parking tickets. Other towns across Wiltshire were already operating their own schemes and consultations were currently being undertaken with the Town Council, Chamber of Commerce and independent retailers in Chippenham.
If wanted, the scheme would be administered by the Chamber of Commerce and Town Council, and Wiltshire Council would co-ordinate the promotion of the scheme and pay for signs, tickets and machines.
The Chamber of Commerce Perspective
Rob Perks, President of the Chippenham Chamber of Commerce, gave the perspective of local shops and businesses in Chippenham. This year, businesses had reported a decrease in turnover of between 10 to 25%. Tesco had reported that daytime turnover had reduced by 25% and evening/weekend turnover had increased by 25% since the end of April this year.
The Chamber felt that people were suffering from ‘payment shock’ and were changing their shopping habits in order to avoid paying the car parking charges. It was also a concern that Swindon was now cheaper than Chippenham for the first hours parking, with many people choosing to shop elsewhere and not tending to factor in the cost of additional petrol.
The cost of a one hour parking ticket in Chippenham had increased from 50p to £1.10, and the Chamber felt that this increase had had the biggest impact on shoppers’ habits. It appeared that shoppers were less likely to stay and browse, and were more likely to condense their visits and buy in bulk.
Question and Answer Session
Having heard from the various presenters, a question and answer session took place and the following issues and comments arose:
· The towns had been banded according to numerous factors. It was acknowledged that the charge for one hours parking in Corsham was 30p, but this had been based on retail offerings and the need to distinguish between the smaller and larger market towns.
· A comment was made that free parking did not automatically result in retail success; the Focus store offered free parking but was now closing down.
· Charging for parking on Sundays was not being considered as an option.
· It was acknowledged that parking for town centre employees was expensive, but deep discounts were available to season ticket holders.
· The restriction to 3 hour maximum stays had come out of the car parking consultation, as 65% of respondents had been in favour of this approach.
· The raising of car parking charges to subsidise buses was perfectly legal; it was penalty charges that could not be used as a revenue-generating tool.
· The delegation of car parks to the Town Council, but the responsibility and costs involved were very great and should not be underestimated.
· One of the key drivers of the Car Parking Strategy was to facilitate planned development growth and encourage a major shift to sustainable transport along the main commuter corridors.
· £330,000 was the cost of subsidising bus usage in the Chippenham area.
· There was concern about the removal of the Bus Service Operators Grant; which was a grant to cover the diesel costs of bus operators.
· A large amount of the Council’s revenue came from the first hour of parking; approximately £3.4 million across the County and £633,000 from the Chippenham area. Any changes to parking costs could have a huge impact on the Council’s budget.
· The usage of rural buses was questioned, and it was felt that rural residents living between two market towns were not likely to choose to shop in Chippenham.
· Concern was raised that the number of car parking tickets being sold was declining significantly, and the town was suffering as a result.
· The rise in parking charges was resulting in more people finding alternative places to park free, and residential streets were becoming more clogged with vehicles of shoppers and workers.
· It was recommended that the Chamber of Commerce should feed their information in to the Council via the Economic Development Department so that it could inform the car parking review.
· It was also recommended that the Chamber of Commerce consulted with neighbouring Chambers to get a wider perspective of the problems.
Roundtable Discussions
A series of roundtable discussions took place. The following comments were fed back as a result of these discussions:
· A reduction in car parking charges could be achieved by reducing the amount of subsidy that was going into rural buses.
· Chippenham should not be compared with Bath, Swindon or Trowbridge in terms of car parking. Instead, Chippenham should be compared with Devizes, Malmesbury and Corsham.
· The reputation of Chippenham was likely to suffer over time.
· Bus times were not considered to be user-friendly for workers.
· The increase in car parking charges could have been implemented more gradually.
· There was little argument that Band 2 and 3 towns were different.
· A compromise was required and a charge of 70p for the first hour seemed reasonable.
· If the car parking charges were reduced, usage would potentially increase which could subsequently increase the Council’s revenue.
· It was felt that £1.10 was an inconvenient amount, and a charge of under £1 would be more reasonable.
· A price sensitivity analysis was suggested.
· Chippenham and Trowbridge were in the same band but the retail offering in Trowbridge was greater.
· A charge of £1 per day for workers was suggested, to prevent residential streets becoming clogged and to generate more income for the Council.
· The problem was considered to be wider than just parking charges and it was requested that Wiltshire Council needed to look at the issues on a wider scale, particularly the encouragement of more businesses to Chippenham.
· It was suggested that there could be an option to park for 30 minutes; and this could be priced at 50p.
· Free parking could be brought forward from 6pm to 5pm.
Following consideration of the questions and answers, a participative voting exercise was conducted with all those present.
Taking all of the information into account, the Area Board considered the best way to take the identified issues forward.
Decision
The Area Board agreed to recommend that Cabinet:
i. Reduced the cost of a one hour car parking ticket in Chippenham town centre car parks back towards 50 pence.
ii. Moved towards separating car parking charges and the subsidisation of public transport in next year’s budget.