Archived decisions

7. Introduction

7.1 Gosport Borough Council is considering the introduction of parking charges in the town centre, Stoke Road and the foreshore car parks.

7.2 The Borough Council is required under the Road Traffic Regulations Act 1984 to obtain the consent of the County Council to an Order to introduce off-street car parking charges.

7.3 The Order also contains parking bays which are on the highway. To comply with the Highways Agency Agreement, consent has also been sought and granted under Sections 45 and 46 of the Road Traffic Regulations Act 1984.

7.4 The scheme to introduce parking charges provides a mechanism for better management of off-street car parks and particularly better enforcement of waiting restrictions, and gives the Borough Council a legislative platform for decriminalisation.

7.5 The Borough Council currently makes a seasonal charge for the seafront car parks in the borough, which had in the past been collected by individual parking attendants. The Borough Council became increasingly aware of the vulnerability of these persons and has therefore installed `Pay and Display' machines in the affected car parks.

7.6 Given the short timescale this matter has not been considered by the Solent Transport Strategy Panel. It will be considered by the Panel on 12 October.

8. Management of Car Parks

8.1 The proposals aim to manage more effectively the existing stock of off-street car parks and contribute to the objectives of the former South East Hampshire Transport Strategy by:

(i) the placing of greater controls on the use of town car parks to discourage unnecessary journeys and reduce the growth in traffic movements. The controls have been devised in such a way as to maintain the viability of the town centre;

(ii) gaining greater adherence to regulations, particularly waiting restrictions;

(iii) the better management of the Borough Council's off-street car parks to provide an administrative and financial platform to help achieve other objectives of the strategy, an example being the introduction of decriminalised parking to improve the management of on-street parking; and

(iv) forming a first step in the Borough Council's ongoing process to manage traffic, and particularly parking, in a more effective and coordinated way.

9. Level of Charge

9.1 The Borough Council has proposed a charge of 50 pence per hour, with over five hours being charged at £3.00 (per day). The charges will apply from 8am to 6pm in all car parks prescribed in the draft order.

9.2 The level of charge is slightly lower than in adjacent districts. For example Fareham Borough Council charges 60 pence per hour, or £10 for over five hours in short stay car parks and £3 for over four hours in long stay car parks. Given that this charge is new, the level seems reasonable.

9.3 The car parking charges will promote turnover in the car parks for short stay users in the town centre, reducing the attractiveness of long stay commuter parking and encouraging short stay visitors to promote local businesses and services.

9.4 Monitoring of the car parks will need to be undertaken to review how successful the introduction of parking charges has been in increasing parking turnover.

10. Decriminalisation of On-Street Parking Enforcement

10.1 The Borough Council is supportive in principle of the decriminalisation of on-street parking enforcement and would wish to introduce it in the future. However, the first step would be the implementation of parking charges, and then to review the opportunity to take this forward.

11. Conclusion

11.1 The introduction of parking charges in Gosport is welcomed as it will contribute toward the effective management of the car parks and contribute towards the aims of the former South East Hampshire Transportation strategy.

11.2 It is recommended that approval for the order be given to enable the parking charges to be introduced.

8895/JC