Archived decisions

Contact: Ben Clifton, tel 01962 892879 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 The report sets out the County Council's response to a request from East Hampshire for consent to vary the charges at off-street car parks and to introduce charges on Sundays at car parks in Petersfield and Alton. The County Council is required to respond to such requests under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.

2. Recommendation

2.1 That the County Council consents to the proposal by East Hampshire District Council to increase car parking charges in off-street car parks and to introduce charges in Council car parks on Sundays, as advertised.

3. Background

3.1 All District and Borough Councils are required by legislation to seek consent from the County Council for the introduction or variation of Parking Orders. The relevant provision is under Section 39 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. The County Council can provide consent subject to such conditions or restrictions as it thinks fit, or the County Council may require modification of the terms of the proposal as it thinks appropriate, but the District Council has the right to appeal should it wish to do so. Such appeal would be to the Secretary of State.

3.2 The proposals will bring East Hampshire's car parking charge structure in line with neighbouring authorities and will be the first increases for four years. The change to car parking charges represents an average price increase of 17%. The introduction of charges for Sundays would be from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm (excluding bank holidays).

3.3 Following consultation with local County Councillors, some objections have been raised and are addressed in this report.

4. Comparison of Parking Charges with Neighbouring Authorities

4.1 The District Council carried out research into 15 local authorities' parking charges as part of a benchmarking exercise to help determine the proposed changes to charges. The outcome was that car parking charges were less than most of the authorities included in the benchmarking process.

4.2 At present in a long stay car park the charge for one hour is 30p. An increase of 10p to 40p per hour would bring the District Council in line with places like Sherborne and Dorchester, but would still remain cheaper than 76% of other authorities researched. It was found that the average charge was 71p for one hour. The charge for two hours would increase from 70p to 90p, below the level charged by 80% of the other authorities researched. The average charge was assessed at £1.32.

4.3 For longer stay parking the charges are also less than other authorities. The proposal is to increase a four hour stay from £1.70/£2.00 to £2.00/£2.40 (long stay/short stay). Eight hour parking is increased from £4.00 to £4.80. Of the car parks researched, 69% charge more than East Hampshire's current rates for both durations of stay. The average charge for eight hour parking was found to be £5.51.

4.4 A schedule of the proposed charges is set out in the appendix.

5. Local Members' Views

5.1 The seven local County Council Members were consulted and replies were received from Councillors Kemp-Gee, Carew and Sam Payne. Councillor Kemp-Gee made no comment. Councillors Sam Payne and Carew expressed concerns that the proposal comes at a time when some public transport services have been reduced and would have a negative impact on those wishing to use alternative modes of transport as a result of an increase in car parking charges. Councillor Sam Payne was also concerned about the impact the increased charges would have on on-street parking in Petersfield; the impact on employment in town centres and the parking machines not giving change. The following seeks to address these issues.

6. Public Transport Reductions

6.1 Passenger transport reviews were carried out across the county to effect the necessary budgetary saving in 2007/08. The reduction of a small number of bus services in the East Hampshire area reflects the low patronage levels on those services and the relatively poor value for money they therefore represent. As a result of the East Hampshire area review exercise, the evening journeys on service 18 (Aldershot-Bordon/Whitehill-Haslemere) were removed.

6.2 The Bordon/Whitehill local bus service 221 was withdrawn once external funding from a local development had expired. The service was poorly used, very expensive to run and duplicated some sections of a commercial route. The commercial service 18 was diverted in places to offset the loss of service 221.

6.3 The Bordon/Whitehill to Petersfield service will be retained for one day a week in support of the Whitehill, Bordon and Lindford Accessibility Pilot.

6.4 The reduction of services as a result of the review affects evening services only. As the parking charges will not apply in the evening those affected by the proposed increases will still have access to bus services as an alternative means of transport.

7. On-Street Parking

7.1 Any impact affecting on-street parking from the increase in off-street parking charges would be addressed as part of ongoing investigation into residential parking schemes in Alton and Petersfield. This is being carried out by the Area Highways team.

8. Employment Town Centres

8.1 The proposed increases will affect car parks in Petersfield and Alton where demand for space is highest and the attraction in terms of shops, employment and other facilities is greatest. The proposed increases would bring charges into line with comparable town centres.

9. Car Parking Machines

9.1 The management of car parks is a responsibility of district councils, East Hampshire would have to address any issues which arose as a result of the charges. The East Hampshire arrangements are similar to others across Hampshire.

10. Impact Assessments

10.1 There are no direct implications for disabled or minority groups arising from the decision. Blue badge holders are exempt from parking charges.

11. Conclusion

11. The proposal to increase parking charges at East Hampshire car parks would make its charging regime more comparable to other local authorities and is the first proposed increase for four years. Both Alton and Petersfield are attractive market towns and the charging regime for car parks should reflect the value of the space used. Reductions to local bus services only affect evening services and therefore would not have an impact on these proposals. The management of car parking provision and use within town centres is consistent with County Council Transport Policy, which seeks to promote choice and balanced provision between transport modes where possible.

1614Rpt/BC