Dear Stakeholder,
Review of Car Parking
I
am writing to you for your views on car parking. Mid Suffolk District Council
last undertook a major review of car parking in 2009/10 with new charges
introduced in April 2011. In the report to the Council’s Executive Committee in
January 2010 it was recommended and approved that car parking charges should be
reviewed at least every other year. It was also agreed with other key
stakeholders that a more general review of car parking would be undertaken in
the summer of 2012.
By
way of brief background, Mid Suffolk District Council is responsible for six pay
and display car parks in Stowmarket; (short term) the Meadow Centre, Milton
Road, (long term) Iliffe Way, Ipswich Street, Bury Street and Union Street. The
Council also manages a number of other car parks which are not pay and display
in Needham Market, Eye, Debenham and Woolpit. The Council is responsible for
setting the car parking charges, where appropriate, through the Off-Street
Parking Places Order made under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, section
35. The income from car park charges contributes to the management and
maintenance of the car parks as well as making a significant contribution to
support the provision of other related services. A detail of the current
charging schedule is attached to this letter.
It
is important to be clear on the scope and context of any review to ensure that
the consultation is meaningful and deliverable. The Council’s political administration
has outlined the scope and the broad basis of the review below which will
hopefully provide some clear guidance. However, the Council does not want to
restrict any views and welcomes comments on any aspect of car parking. The
questions set out below are therefore not exhaustive but hopefully provide some
guidance.
Financial –
Although the Council’s financial projections are extremely challenging, in
consideration of the current financial position and the desire of the Council
to support the local economy, it is not the intention of the Council to
consider increasing charges. The Council, where practical and possible, would
consider any changes that would have a neutral financial impact on the overall
car parking budget.
Are
the current charging periods for short and long term parking appropriate? A
change has already been approved for the Milton Road car park to bring the
waiting periods in line with the other short term car parks i.e. 3 hours
maximum waiting times with charging periods of 0 to 1 ½ hours and 1 ½ to 3
hours. This was implemented from 24 September 2012.
Is
there a need to consider any other changes to waiting or charging periods?
The
Council has reiterated its previous policy of not considering Sunday charging. Any
views?
The
Council does not wish to consider any form of charging for Blue Badge holders.
Any views?
Any
other views on charging that could be considered that could have a neutral
financial impact?
Car Park Designation – Is the
current designation of short term and long term parking appropriate? The car
parks in Milton Road and the Meadow Centre are designated short stay car parks
Car Park Capacity – Is
there sufficient car park capacity in Stowmarket? Any views?
Car Park Management – Are
there other alternative forms of management that could be considered that would
not significantly impact upon the Council’s overall car park budget?
There
have been views expressed that charging should be considered in other towns and
parishes across Mid Suffolk. The Council’s view remains that this is uneconomic
and unviable, what are the views of others?
I hope that the above
gives some guidance on the scope of the review and whilst I do not want to
restrict any views being received or considered, it is important to set out
some boundaries. Could you please provide your comments by 31st
October 2012 either in writing or by e-mail to:
Chris Fry
MSDC
131 High Street
Needham Market
Suffolk
IP6 8DL
Or via email: chris[dot]fry[at]midsuffolk[dot]gov[dot]uk
Or telephone: 01449
724805
Your comments will be reported to the Environment
Policy Panel in November and onto the Executive Committee in December.
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