Agenda item

Mike Redman, Director of Environment

The Director of Environment attended the meeting to give an update on the car parking strategy which had been requested by members of the committee keen to get an update on the current status.

In his introduction, he explained that the Cabinet Member Working Group (CMWG) had spent some time trying to understand and get to grips with the complex issues surrounding car parking in the town. There were fundamental questions regarding whether there is the right capacity in the town, whether any car parking land could be released for development and whether the car parking provision was meeting the needs of local businesses and supporting the retail economy. At the same time there was also a need to encourage sustainable transport and not undermine local transport companies.  Car parking also provided a very significant income contribution to the council's budget and so the financial impact of any subsidies needed to be carefully considered. For that reason the CPMWG would be considering the financial implications of introducing free car parking after 6 p.m. before any implementation.

In the discussions that followed, some Members were concerned that the report did not articulate a long-term vision or strategy. They suggested that a strategy would not start from the current offering but would look at where parking was needed, the types of car parking required and the facilities and this could then feed into the local plan.

The Director reminded members that this report was an update rather than the final strategy. Blue sky thinking was an option but there would always be limits on funding available and current locations of car parks would have to be taken into consideration. The review would be looking at whether any of the existing car parks could be released for development and whether there were any options for extending existing car parks through decking.

Members were disappointed to read that it was proving difficult to engage with Gloucestershire County Council. The Director confirmed that county officers had pulled out of a recent meeting of the CMWG but he was seeking to re-engage them and bring them along to the next meeting. He would welcome any assistance from Members in encouraging their county council colleagues to engage with this strategy work.

It was noted that there had been a question tabled to the County Council Cabinet Member proposing that he reintroduce Parking Boards as they provided a valuable forum for engagement of local members. 

Members requested that the car parking strategy should also look at parking provision for two wheeled motorised vehicles.

A Member also highlighted the problem in Charlton Kings which offered free parking for a limited period. Without any enforcement in place, this was now being used by commuters going into Cheltenham by bus, thereby depriving local people of spaces to enable them to do their local shopping and business.

The Director confirmed that this would be considered. Bath Road car park had suffered similar problems in the past which resulted in the introduction of a charge. Enforcement in out-of-town centre car parks would always be an issue with only four FTE car parking enforcement officers, but they did undertake random spot checks. He also confirmed that the strategy would look at best practice in other towns that had similar problems.

The Chair thanked the Director for his attendance and response to members questions.