Car parking fees: Shoppers in Christchurch face price hikes (From Thisisdorset)
When news happens send us your pictures, video and views. Text BE to 80360 or contact us by email
Car parking fees: Shoppers in Christchurch face price hikes
5:00pm Tuesday 7th February 2012 in News By Katie Clark
ALL CHANGE: Car park charges are set to rise in April at Christchurch Council car parks
CAR parking fees are to rise again throughout Christchurch despite concerns at some of the new prices.
Councillors on the resources committee at Christchurch council unanimously approved the increases to car parks across the borough at a committee meeting on Wednesday.
In the town centre, parking fees for one hour will stay the same at 80p but for a two-hour stay will increase from £1.40 to £1.60 from April this year.
The rise sparked concerns from Christchurch Chamber of Trade and Commerce who urged the council to rethink the shoppers’ car parks strategy.
In a letter to senior engineer Andy Cadle, Terry Atkinson, general secretary of the Chamber of Trade said: “You will have seen from the Mary Portas Review that the perception of having to pay to park to go shopping is a significant negative influence on people, but the resolution is necessarily complicated.
“Here in Christchurch, there is a growing opinion that we should do all we can to encourage visitors to “dwell” for longer.
“As more and more “shoppers” partake of the increasing number of restaurants and cafes as well as doing some shopping, it is clear that one hour is not long enough and that we need to make the two hour stay more attractive.
“Obviously you have the usage figures and no doubt you will have increased the popular two-hour rate to maximise revenue.
“Increasing the two-hour charge is not, we believe, in any of our interests in the longer term.”
Mr Atkinson requested that the council “crunch the numbers” again and consider freezing the two-hour rate at the bypass car park and Wick Lane.
However, he did express the chamber’s gratitude at the freeze on the one-hour rate for shoppers’ car parks.
But despite these concerns, as well as a letter from Highcliffe Residents Association regarding the charges at Wortley Road in Highcliffe, councillors voted to increase parking charges.
Cllr Trish Jamieson, who seconded the motion said: “We have only had six responses so people aren’t really up in arms.”
But independent councillor Colin Bungey warned: “I know the Chamber of Trade has concerns and we have to be careful how far we push this.”
Comments(18)
The Renegade Master
says...
5:46pm Tue 7 Feb 12
Turtlebay
says...
6:27pm Tue 7 Feb 12
cdjames
says...
7:02pm Tue 7 Feb 12
ShuttleX
says...
7:56pm Tue 7 Feb 12
.
You might find people don't bother to respond as they have quickly worked out that you Cllrs take no notice what so ever of people who do. You think you are always right, and everybody else is wrong.
.
People were up in arms over Druitt Hall, but did you take any notice of them?
.
I suggest you keep your mouth shut Ms Jamieson, until you know what you are talking about. If your record is anything to go by, that will be never.
penhale
says...
8:28pm Tue 7 Feb 12
ShuttleX wrote:Spot on, she also needs to realize that people also vote with their feet so Christchurch will soon become more of a ghost town than ever.
Cllr Trish Jamieson, who seconded the motion said: “We have only had six responses so people aren’t really up in arms.”
.
You might find people don't bother to respond as they have quickly worked out that you Cllrs take no notice what so ever of people who do. You think you are always right, and everybody else is wrong.
.
People were up in arms over Druitt Hall, but did you take any notice of them?
.
I suggest you keep your mouth shut Ms Jamieson, until you know what you are talking about. If your record is anything to go by, that will be never.
MrsT.Jojo
says...
9:40pm Tue 7 Feb 12
It is even worse that all the streets in a 3 block radius of my home are painted yellow because goodness forbid a university student might want to park there...or someone who actually lives in the neighborhood.
What is up with all of these parking fees and fines?!
b26b
says...
11:02pm Tue 7 Feb 12
You wont get resistance because people have seen and herd it all before and bend over and take it. When foot fall suffers she will realise what a minky she has been.
Afcbpete
says...
11:02pm Tue 7 Feb 12
Jetwasher
says...
11:23pm Tue 7 Feb 12
Bob49
says...
12:07am Wed 8 Feb 12
Cut the parking charges to 50p an hour and £1 an hour. Encourage local traders to reimburse the tickets after a set amount has been spent in their shop,cafe etc
Cut the councillors allowances by 10% to offset any initial loss of revenue. It will allow the Cllrs to visibly express their solidaritory with others who are struggling a bit at the moment. Encourage Cllrs to get off their backsides and stopping talking about how to squeeze more blood out a stone, and instead put the squeeze on landlords. Just as traders and shoppers have to adjust their prices and spending landlords must be a bit more 'realistic' in the rents.
Stop holding endless meetings and get and and talking to real people. Listen, and try to bring about the changes needed before the changes are brought about that will kill Christchurch High St ie no visitors.
The penny pinching measures you are bringing in merely add to peoples feeling of resentment. There should be a good feeling to visiting the town not a sense of being hounded for every penny possible.
If you are not up to taking a positive approach then why not get on with something you and many on Christchurch Council would seem more suited to - repainting the town signs.
Christchurch - a place where time is pleasant (if you don't stay more than an hour, then it's £1.60 and look sharpish)
mudeford7
says...
7:54am Wed 8 Feb 12
upyourpipe
says...
8:29am Wed 8 Feb 12
mudeford7 wrote:Why not make parking free to encourage shoppers back to the high street, does anyone want to pay a £1 to nip into Argos for 5 minutes.
why not round up the 80p to a £1 and the 2hr to £1 -50 It would be easier to find these amounts in your pocket or purse according to your gender
Every council in the country is moaning that high streets are suffering lower and lower footfall and their answer is to hike parking fees, really is a no brainer.
angiepar
says...
9:14am Wed 8 Feb 12
Earl
says...
9:21am Wed 8 Feb 12
Old Colonial
says...
9:46am Wed 8 Feb 12
Councillors should learn a bit of humility and ensure their brain is in gear before engaging tongue.
Julie G
says...
11:08am Wed 8 Feb 12
As mentioned above we already pay enough Council Tax and our services are being cut back and cut back (not to mention they are now shared with East Dorset) so, to summarise, we are paying more money for reduced services have to pay more money for a much reduced content in town!!! Where's the sense in that. Always makes me laugh when Cllrs say that nobody has really objected to this. The Council dont exactly publicise these increases so that ordinary Joe Public is made aware of them.
Correct me if I am wrong but arent Cllrs working FOR the town - it always amazes me how they hold their positions yet half the time dont listen to the townsfolk or the people like the Christchurch Trade and Commerce who are telling them what they need to do to improve the footfall in town.
I'll just keep shopping at Castlepoint!
dobrojoe
says...
11:26am Wed 8 Feb 12
Tony7 says...
5:28pm Tue 7 Feb 12