Agenda item

Report ES12089

Following the Executive’s support for funding additional Bromley Town Centre parking capacity due to the closure of Westmoreland Road Car Park, Report ES12089 provided details on each of the sites being taken forward to assist with replacing spaces lost.

The Assistant Director (Transport and Highways) requested the inclusion of a further recommendation to the Portfolio Holder that works to St Blaise Car Park as outlined in Report ES12089 be agreed. He was confident that the Car Park’s present capacity could be retained for the future. 

Paragraph 5.1 of Report ES12089 included an indication of the number of town centre spaces to be provided, all of which contributed to measures for replacing those spaces lost due to the Westmoreland Road Car Park closure.

Although some 580 parking spaces would be lost in passing Westmoreland Road Car Park to its developers in September 2012, the car park’s top two decks were not normally used (except during the Christmas period) and the loss of capacity would be nearer to 400 spaces rather than 580. The further spaces proposed would not completely provide for the 400 lost but the public could also use the Ground Floor levels of the Civic Centre Car Park over the Christmas period when staff had an option to park at the Adult Education College. The primary intention was to have Phase 1 of parking provision completed before Christmas 2012. The Chairman indicated that current economic circumstances suggested that parking capacity would not be fully utilised in any case.

For the future, it was indicated that there would be some additional parking at Site G but it was important to have Phase 1 completed. The Chairman indicated that no further spaces were planned until the financial position improved, although on completion of the Westmoreland development in 2015, he advised that it was proposed to have about 300 extra parking spaces. 

Councillor Fookes enquired whether any thought had been given to working with the private sector for parking provision. The Chairman had suggested to the Executive and Resources PDS Committee that staff be charged to park at private car parks; however, the Assistant Director confirmed that there was private sector little interest in such an approach.

The Vice-Chairman suggested there would be a parking impact from online shopping and she highlighted competition from shopping centres with free parking. The Assistant Director was confident that the provision funded by the Executive would satisfy medium term demand. The speed and recovery of the economy would be part of considerations for any Phase 2 parking provision next year. There would be a natural break point at Christmas and rather than accept that a Phase 2 would take place, Members could take a view.

Councillor Grainger hoped that there would not be a loss of parking space from kerb build out. He also felt that recovery was unlikely if customers did not have parking provision to begin with - people might go elsewhere and not return.

Councillor Bennett highlighted that there was a long row of cabs by the side of Bromley South station at busy times which made the road narrow. He indicated that he did not see evidence of cabs waiting in Elmfield Park.

Councillor Bennett also suggested that the Bromley Conservative Club be approached in view of spare parking capacity at the car park it shared with another organisation. He indicated that the car park owners could be keen to have income from the spare capacity. Concerning the proposed parking bays at Walters Yard, Councillor Bennett also suggested appropriate signs providing direction to the High Street.

Councillor Jefferys offered his support for the parking proposals outlined in order to retain existing shoppers. 

RESOLVED that the Environment Portfolio Holder be recommended to agree to:

(1)  the procurement of a contract for repairs to The Hill and the subsequent implementation of works to demolish the top slab;

(2)  delegate authority to the Director of Environmental Services, in consultation with the Environment Portfolio Holder, to implement a

name change for The Hill car park;

(3)  the submission of a planning application for the Mitre Close car park, and to implementation of the scheme should planning permission be granted;

(4)  the design, consultation on and implementation of on-street parking bays on Walters Yard and Elmfield Park; and

(5)  the works proposed for the St Blaise Car Park.