Agenda item

To consider the Head of Community and Environmental Services’ Report No. COMM1514 (copy attached), which seeks approval for a trial of a number of parking concessions in Aldershot town centre.

The Cabinet considered the Head of Community and Environmental Services’ Report No. COMM1514, which sought approval for the introduction of a number of parking concessions on a one-year trial basis, aimed at encouraging more shoppers to Aldershot town centre and assisting residents living in the area.

Members heard that the proposals had been devised in response to concerns expressed by residents, Members and businesses that:

·                     the current parking charges were discouraging shoppers from using the town centre

·                     it was difficult for residents living in the town centre to find free overnight parking

·                     due to the popularity of the free Westgate car park, it was difficult for those using the complex and the Princes Hall in the evenings to find a parking space

Members were reminded that the one-hour on street parking restriction had been introduced at the request of retailers to encourage pop in trade and to prevent the bays from being used for long periods by commuters, people working and residents living in the town. This had been a success with the bays being well used and for this reason, it was not felt that reducing the cost of parking or offering free parking would increase the number of customers visiting the town. It was, however, proposed to trial the provision of 20 free one hour parking bays in the High Street Multi Storey Car Park to encourage the use of this currently underused car park. It was explained that the Birchett Road Car Park was designated as short stay but that, given the low cost of all-day parking at £5 compared to the cost of £7.50 for all-day parking at the private Railway Station Car Park, this car park was being used primarily by commuters. Whilst this brought an income to the Council of £115,000 per annum, there could be significant benefit to shoppers if the all-day tariff was removed, with a maximum stay of three hours imposed. It was proposed to carry out a consultation with commuters using the car park to see whether, in the event of this restriction being introduced, they were likely to displace to either of the available private car parks at the Railway Station or the Wellington Centre or to one of the Council owned car parks at the High Street Multi Storey or Parsons Barracks. The information received would inform whether or not to make these changes at the Birchett Road Car Park. Regarding evening parking, it was proposed to consult with businesses about whether to offer time-limited free on street parking after 6 p.m. It was further proposed to offer free overnight parking in the High Street Multi Storey Car Park in order to encourage local residents to use this facility and ease street parking issues. It was further proposed to offer a 60p all-day charge on Sundays in all the Aldershot Council car parks, in line with the rate charged by the Wellington Centre.

The Cabinet RESOLVED that the following initiatives relating to parking in Aldershot town centre, as set out in the Head of Community and Environment’s Report No. COMM1514, be approved:

-           to provide 20 dedicated bays with up to one hour free parking in the High Street Multi Storey Car Park on a one-year trial basis;

-           to provide free overnight parking in the High Street Multi Storey Car Park from 6 p.m. to 9 a.m.;

-           to carry out consultation with town centre residents on their overnight parking;

-           to introduce 60p all-day on Sundays in the Council’s Aldershot car parks on a one-year trial basis;

-           to carry out consultation to assess the implications of Birchett Road Car Park becoming a three hour maximum stay car park and whether this would encourage commuters to use the long stay car parks at Parsons Barracks and High Street Multi Storey; and

-           carry out consultation with businesses to assess the support for free evening on street parking.