Archived press
release.
A report produced by Suffolk Coastal’s Car Park Task Group on
the proposed introduction of car parking charges at the three
Council owned car parks at Wickham Market will be considered by
Cabinet at their meeting on November 7.
Wickham Market is one of only two market towns in the district
where no charge is currently made for car parking.
“We appreciate that the proposed introduction of car park
charges at Wickham Market has caused concern with local residents
and businesses, but the charges under consideration are being kept
as low as possible,” said Councillor Andy Smith, Chairman of the
Car Park Task Group.
“Suffolk Coastal is keen to ensure the continuing success of
Wickham Market as a shopping and service centre and experience
elsewhere in the district shows that modest car parking charges do
not result in reduced town centre usage.
“We have found that improved traffic management achieved through
charging for car parking and its enforcement have prevented cars
remaining parked for long periods so that shoppers can normally
expect to find a space.
“Wickham Market has a limited amount of parking space so it is
important that a continued turnover is maintained. The
charges suggested have been kept low and it is felt that they will
not represent any serious disincentive for people to continue to
visit the town. However, they will fund the maintenance and
management of the car parks, removing the subsidy on this by other
towns in the district,” continued Councillor Smith.
The recommendation of the Task Group was that, in principle,
charges be introduced at Market Hill and Crafers car parks, and
that more research was undertaken into the very complex issues at
Chapel Lane. The Task Group also recommended that any decision to
charge was not implemented until the next major revision of the
Off-Street Car Parks Order, probably in 2008 with full public
consultation nearer that time.
The charges recommended for the Hill car park, a short stay car
park, would be 20p for up to 30 minutes, 40p for up to one hour and
70p for up to two hours.
The recommendation for the Crafers car park was that this should
be a long stay 46 space car park, used by people employed in the
area, tourists and longer stay shoppers. The charges
suggested would be in line with similar car parks in the district –
40p for up to one hour, 70p for two hours, £1 for two to four hours
and £1.50 for over four
hours.