Issue - meetings

REVIEW OF PARKING FEES

Meeting: 22/11/2022 - Environment and Community Services Policy Development and Scrutiny Committee (Item 232)

232 PARKING SERVICES - REVIEW OF PARKING FEES AND CHARGING PROCESSES pdf icon PDF 756 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

ES20177

 

The Committee noted that the proposed changes to parking fees and charging processes would not be applied to the car park at Sundridge Park.

 

A statement was read out from Cllr Alison Stammers expressing concern that the proposals in the report would have a detrimental impact on residents and businesses. She said that herself and ward colleagues had been inundated with emails urging resistance to the removal of pay and display machines. She highlighted problems with the App and with internet access and the fact that a high percentage of transactions were still being processed using cash. She expressed the view that given the impact of the proposals, there should have been a process of consultation beforehand. She requested therefore that the decision be deferred to allow time for a Boroughwide consultation, or if that was not feasible, time for Ward Councillors to consult with residents and businesses in their respective wards. 

 

The motion for a deferral from Cllr Stammers was seconded by Cllr Ireland. A Member said that she would like to see more work undertaken on the Equality Impact Assessment before progressing any further with the proposals.

 

Biggin Hill Ward Councillors Melanie Stevens and Sophie Dunbar requested that the following statement be noted in the minutes:

 

‘We totally oppose the recommendations to implement paid parking bays on Main Road Biggin Hill. To implement  would be the death of a very tangible, but struggling “High Street” following Covid, the rise in rent and cost of living. It would result in further retail space being converted into residential dwellings, forcing local residents to travel to shop!

 

The Main Road of Biggin Hill is populated by businesses to the west side and residential properties to the east. 

 

The free on street waiting bays are located mainly to the shop side of the Main Road with half a dozen being to the residential side.

 

Most businesses, (83%,) are independent traders which include barbers, beauty & hair salons, florists, card & stationery outlet, post office, convenience stores, food & alcohol retailers, opticians, printing & art design, gift & homewares, butchers, and dry cleaners.  None of these have off street free parking and rely on the parking waiting bays for passing trade which they rely on to stop and visit their shops.

 

We have not received any complaints from any shop owners that the waiting bays are abused and any vehicles outstaying their time. They comment on how it increases the footfall and is vital to the ongoing success of their business.

 

The remaining 9% is made up of major supermarket retailers, homeware and food outlets, all with behind store off street free parking facilities. 

 

There is always ample parking within these car parks. The danger of making the on street free waiting bays into paid bays is that shoppers will park to the rear of the major chains and then fail to exit onto the Main Road and shop at the independent retailers.

 

In the last 18 months, 2% of retail space has been converted into  ...  view the full minutes text for item 232