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Car parking charges
Published: 11/01/2018
天涯社区鈥檚 Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee will
review the proposed changes to car parking charges and recommend their
preferred option when it next meets on Tuesday, 16 January.
Car parking charging levels have not been reviewed since their introduction in
April 2015 and the income generated does not meet the full cost of managing and
operating the car parks. This position is contrary to the Council鈥檚 newly
adopted corporate policy for fees and charges which expects chargeable
non-mandatory functions to be provided on a full cost recovery basis wherever
possible.
天涯社区鈥檚 Cabinet Member for Streetscene and Transportation,
Councillor Carolyn Thomas, said:
鈥淲e are living in difficult times and raising charges in the car parks is
always going to be a contentious issue. However, this is one of the solutions
to help balance our annual budget and income levels need to be raised across
all services. All Councils are in a similar position and from comparative
research 天涯社区 has scope to increase its total income. The proposed
increases are reasonable and would still be low when compared to other Welsh
counties.
The impact of local parking trends has been considered widely in every town
where there are car parking charges. Every opportunity to offer some free
on-street parking, close to the town centre has been examined and the Council
is currently consulting with two Town Councils about the potential to remove
existing pedestrianisation orders, which will allow vehicles back into the High
Streets.
鈥楻esidents Only鈥� parking schemes are also being considered in two areas of the
County, where displaced parking is occurring as a result of the unavailability
of car parking in the town centre which is creating issues for local residents.
The more challenging element is to measure the impact car parking charges has
on the vitality and viability of the Town centres. Research shows that charges
have not impacted on car parking usage, in fact the levels of use have actually
increased in six towns over the past two years. The exception is Connah鈥檚 Quay
where there is extensive off-street parking.
Councillor Thomas continued:
鈥淭he total cost of delivering and managing the car parking service is 拢886,000
a year and this would be recovered by the proposed charges. This would result
in the car parking service being cost neutral and achieving full cost recovery.鈥�
There are no plans to raise the car parking charges currently in Talacre as the
rates charged there are already above those charged elsewhere in the county.
However, in Mold, it is proposed that charges would continue at a slightly
higher level than in other areas of the County with a percentage of the
increased charge being returned to the Town Council to allow them to invest in
visitor infrastructure improvements.
If agreed, the new charging arrangements will be advertised in each car park
during February and March 2018 and will come into effect from 1 April 2018.