Agenda item

To receive a presentation from Chris Major (Parking Operations Manager) on the outcome of the recent consultation on the Car Parking Strategy.

Councillor Dick Tonge, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, introduced the results of the recent consultation on the Council’s Parking Strategy.

The Strategy covered a wide range of parking issues, including car park charges, strategic parking policy in relation to new residential and commercial developments, parking at railway stations, and residential parking schemes.

The consultation had been publicised on the Council’s website and through the Community Area Networks.  The issue had also been covered in the local press.  Over 600 people had responded to the consultation, submitting over 5000 individual comments.  Councillor Tonge gave an overview of the response to the consultation:

·        There was overwhelming support for treating the economy as the most important consideration in setting parking policy.

·        In addition, the majority of respondents supported the idea of price banding for different towns; although there was disagreement over which bands towns should be placed in.

·        The majority of respondents supported free parking as a strategic and financial alternative to subsidised bus services.  The current subsidy from Wiltshire Council was around £5 million per year.

·        Support was also expressed for the proposal to offer Town/Parish Councils the option to “buy back” parking spaces or to consider car park management opportunities.

·        The responses also demonstrated support for proposals to increase the number of spaces required for new residential developments.

·        88% of respondents considered Wiltshire Council was “reasonable” in its parking enforcement.

A total of 26 responses had been received from Salisbury, which was considered disappointing.  Comments had included the need to balance short stay parking with Park & Ride, and the importance of encouraging use of Park and Ride by shoppers and tourists.  Concern had also been raised that minimum residential parking standards would encourage car ownership and undermining efforts to shift to sustainable travel modes.

The next stage in the process was for the consultation responses to be considered and processed, then a report would be submitted to the Cabinet on 14 December.  Statutory procedures would take place between January and March 2011, prior to the changes being implemented from April 2011.

The Chairman thanked Councillor Tonge for the presentation and invited questions and comments:

• The detailed and early consultation on the parking strategy was welcomed, although disappointment was expressed at the low number of responses from the Salisbury area.

• Concern was raised that some of the residents’ parking schemes in Salisbury were over 20 years old, and were no longer fit for purpose.  The view was expressed that these schemes should be reviewed at the earliest opportunity.  Councillor Tonge confirmed that a review of all Wiltshire residents’ parking schemes was planned and that Salisbury would be reviewed first, due to the age of some schemes.  A strategy and timescale were currently being produced.

• A resident referred to a parking scheme which was temporarily operating on a “no enforcement” basis due to the lack of clarity over the yellow lines.  Responding to a request that the cost of permits for this scheme be suspended, Councillor Tonge undertook to look into this operational matter.

• The view was expressed that the consultation document was complicated and detailed.  Councillor Tonge commented that legislation required detail in the parking strategy and that efforts had been made to simplify the consultation.

• It was noted that a balance was required between promoting the economy by keeping parking charges low, and keeping traffic out of the city by encouraging use of the Park and Ride scheme, via higher parking charges.  Councillor Tonge commented that the schedule of charges would be considered by Wiltshire Council’s Cabinet.

Following discussion, the following motion was moved, seconded and agreed:

Decision

The Salisbury Area Board draws the attention of cabinet to the importance to Salisbury of its continued economic vitality both as a popular tourist destination and an attractive shopping centre.  We are keen to encourage the use of Park and Ride, so that our relatively compact city centre is not full of cars, but we also need to ensure that parking charges for Salisbury as a whole are lower than our competitors.