South Coast council reviewing car park management
01/09/2010
The management of car parks in Weymouth and Portland is being reviewed with the introduction of a parking fee freeze looking increasingly likely, after local businesses claimed high fees were driving away trade.
Weymouth and Portland Borough Council (WPBC) will meet next week to discuss the future of the charges, in the wake of figures showing that the use of the borough's car parks is falling.
One proposal they are considering is a complete freeze on short-stay charges for 12 months from April 2011. The council has said, however, that a freeze on short-term charges would have to mean a rise in the long-term rates.
A report into the situation indicated that a "number of reasons" were identified as potentially being behind the drop, including the 2009/10 increases which saw town centre parking rise to £1.30 an hour, compared to 80 pence or £1.10 out of town.
The council is also preparing itself for a further drop in use when Dorset County Council opens the new Mount Pleasant park and ride scheme next year, which could cost them parking income of anywhere between £190,000 and £410,000.
WPBC finance spokesman, Peter Chapman, said the drop in use would be evident in their coffers this year, leaving them around £61,000 down.
“The setting of car park charges is always a balancing act: too high and it discourages people, too low results in a loss of potential income," he said.
Weymouth and Portland Borough Council (WPBC) will meet next week to discuss the future of the charges, in the wake of figures showing that the use of the borough's car parks is falling.
One proposal they are considering is a complete freeze on short-stay charges for 12 months from April 2011. The council has said, however, that a freeze on short-term charges would have to mean a rise in the long-term rates.
A report into the situation indicated that a "number of reasons" were identified as potentially being behind the drop, including the 2009/10 increases which saw town centre parking rise to £1.30 an hour, compared to 80 pence or £1.10 out of town.
The council is also preparing itself for a further drop in use when Dorset County Council opens the new Mount Pleasant park and ride scheme next year, which could cost them parking income of anywhere between £190,000 and £410,000.
WPBC finance spokesman, Peter Chapman, said the drop in use would be evident in their coffers this year, leaving them around £61,000 down.
“The setting of car park charges is always a balancing act: too high and it discourages people, too low results in a loss of potential income," he said.
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