Issue - meetings

That the Draft Parking & Access Strategy is approved for consultation purposes from the end of December and will then be reported back to Cabinet in March.

(CAB3201 and audio recording refers)

Councillor Tod highlighted the renaming of the Strategy to emphasise it included other means of accessing the town, not just by car.  It continued to focus on three ring zones approach, with parking in the central one-way zone the most expensive (as this area generated the most carbon emissions).  The council would take a pragmatic approach to introducing changes and build on experiences from other local authorities.  Monies raised from any increases in parking charges would be used to invest in schemes to reduce carbon emissions.

Two representatives of local interest groups spoke during public participation as summarised briefly below.

Phil Gagg (Chair of WinACC Transport Action Group)

Welcomed the consensus regarding tackling climate change but did not consider the Strategy went far enough.  He believed the consultation on the Strategy should set out meaningful choices.  The assumption that the number of car parking spaces should remain the same should be challenged and a further report was required setting out additional measures to tackle the climate emergency.

Rupert Pitt (Winchester Friends of the Earth)

Disappointed with the Strategy’s limited scope and focus primarily on parking. It should include more about public transport together with encouraging cycling and walking. Increasing the use of park and ride was not a sufficient to tackle the overall issues.  Car parks were effectively subsidised as the areas could offer higher value alternative uses, such as housing.

At the invitation of the Leader, three councillors addressed the meeting, as summarised briefly below:

Councillor Lumby

It was vital that the Movement Strategy was progressed alongside the Council’s Parking and Access Strategy.  The impact on the local economy of evening and Sunday parking charges and potential consequential reduction in income from business rates should be considered.  Rural residents had little choice but to rely on travelling by car.

Councillor Miller

Thanked officers for improvements to car parking in the market towns (particularly at Jubilee Hall, Bishops Waltham).  He highlighted that it sometimes took too long time for traffic regulation orders to be implemented.

Councillor Godfrey

Believed that the Strategy was substantially similar in content to previous years and that apart from the proposal to introduce Sunday and evening car parking charges it was unclear what was being consulted upon.

In response, the Leader clarified that the council was consulting on the contents of the Strategy itself.  Councillor Tod emphasised that the Strategy had to adopt a balanced approach and consider all parts of the district, including links to other local authority areas. He agreed that the Movement Strategy was a key element, with most of its major projects being led by the County Council. 

Cabinet agreed to the following for the reasons set out above and outlined in the Report.

RESOLVED:

That the Draft Parking & Access Strategy be approved for consultation purposes from the end of December 2019 and will then be reported back to Cabinet in March 2020.