Issue - meetings

To receive and consider the report of the Director of Commercial Services.

1.    To make the Flat Iron car park chargeable for 7 days a week between 8am and 5pm.

2.    To increase the tariff on the Flat Iron car park from 50p/hr to £1/hr.

3.    To reduce Free Parking on Long Stay car parks (for vehicles eligible to pay) from 3 hours to 1 hour (the same as for short stay car parks) with up to 4 hours stay being £1.

4.    To designate Portland Street car park as a Leisure car park with a maximum stay of 4 hours (for £1).

Councillor Peter Wilson, Executive Member (Resources) presented the report of the Director of Commercial Services which outlined the Car Park Strategy which seeks to address the main car parking priorities with regards to capacity, accessibility, price and impact on the environment for the next 5 years to reflect the change in demand since the completion of the Market Walk extension with leisure offer, changing consumer habits since the Covid pandemic and the declaration of a Climate Emergency by Chorley Council.

Members noted that the changes are anticipated to generate an additional £175k based on current revenues. Current revenues, however, are down on pre-Covid budgets and parking as a whole is suffering reduced income of £100k. It is anticipated; therefore, this will bring an additional £75k beyond current budgeted levels.

The timing of the strategy was discussed as well as EV charging and Flat Iron tariff charges on a Sunday. Members welcomed the report, in particular the proposals to undertake accessibility works.

Decision:

1.    To make the Flat Iron car park chargeable for 7 days a week between 8am and 5pm.

2.    To increase the tariff on the Flat Iron car park from 50p/hr to £1/hr.

3.    To reduce Free Parking on Long Stay car parks (for vehicles eligible to pay) from 3 hours to 1 hour the (same as short stay car parks) with up to 4 hours stay being £1.

4.    To designate Portland Street car park as a Leisure car park with a maximum stay of 4 hours (for £1).

Reasons for recommendations:

1.    To ensure there is sufficient parking capacity to accommodate future demand by visitors & workers to keep the town centre a thriving and support the local economy

2.    To ensure that the car parks are fit for purpose in terms of stay period for primary users in that location

3.    To consider the future of vehicle types and sizes and changes required to accommodate those vehicles

4.    To maintain a revenue stream for the council to at least cover the costs of providing & maintaining the service

5.    To highlight opportunities for future environmental improvements to the parking facilities

Other options considered and rejected:

1.    Pay-on-Foot - this type of payment for parking is undeliverable due to the configuration of our car parks as it lends itself to multi-storey situations whereby off highway queues can be accommodated. To implement on ground level car parks would lead to a significant reduction in spaces whilst also requiring a permanently manned office to resolve any issues at the barrier/pay centre.

2.    ANPR - all car parks are Council owned (public car parks). Car parks covered by Traffic Regulation Orders under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (criminalised regime) requires contraventions to be addressed in person to a stationary vehicle thus preventing the deployment of ANPR cameras/ parking systems on public car parks.