We have responded to consultation feedback from
traders and residents, concerned that the annual inflation increase
for car parks could further impact on shops and other businesses,
especially in Weston-super-Mare.
Cllr Elfan Ap Rees, deputy leader and executive member for
transport, said that although there were only 23 responses to the
consultation he shared the concerns of those who raised issues
around any increases at this time.
"As a result I have decided that there will be no increase for
24-hour stays in long-stay car parks. This is to encourage the use
of long-stay car parks particularly at a time when there is a
shortage of short-term parking mainly due to current
re-developments in Weston.
"Also Melrose and Grove car parks which serve the Weston town
centre shopping area will not increase as proposed for the first
four-hours rates. Keeping these rates down should benefit local
retailers and businesses who need that constant through-put of
customers."
At the car park in Hill Road East, Worle overstay permits will
be made available for medical staff for the medical centres in that
car park.
At Clevedon seafront a minimum one-hour charge will be
introduced in response to previous public requests.
All other proposals that were included within the consultation
will be adopted.
Our car parks are and remain in line with or are cheaper than
other private car parks within Weston and there will also be no
increase to the present seafront parking fees (covering Marine
Parade and the beaches).
Cllr Ap Rees added that the change will see a shortfall of some
£20,000 from the 2012 budget, which would need to be made up
through budget adjustments and stressed that car parking charges
were an important source of revenue to the council to keep other
services running and to help hold council tax levels down.
"The current (2011/12) target for car parking income is £1.836m.
We're likely to reach that target although there may be a small
shortfall as a result of the closure of Carlton Street car park
which is being changed to a multi-storey as part of the Dolphin
Square re-development."
Meanwhile Cllr Ap Rees has asked scrutiny panel members to
review both off-street and on-street parking throughout North
Somerset over the coming months to answer criticism that Weston is
unfairly targeted and is looking for ways of reducing off- street
charges in the future as part of that review.
