Parking meters would "be the finish of the town centre" (From Bournemouth Echo)
When news happens text pix and video to 80360. Start your message with BE then leave a space.
Parking meter plans for Christchurch are put on hold by council
12:00pm Tuesday 5th March 2013 in News By Katie Clark
ROW: Christchurch High Street and
CONTROVERSIAL plans to charge people for on-street parking in Christchurch have been delayed.
The announcement was made at a meeting of Christchurch council on Tuesday, after concerns were expressed by Cllr Colin Bungey about the effect on traders with questions raised as to whether the council could veto the move.
But it was revealed Dorset County Council, who will take control of the on-street parking service from April, will not be installing the meters just yet.
Cllr Trevor Watts said the decision had been delayed due to the “hard work by members and our county councillors”.
“Any proposal to install on-street parking would be subject to public consultation and Christchurch Borough Council would be able to object at that stage”, he added.
Dorset County Council said last year the current parking services return a deficit of £59,518 – something they want to turn around.
Plans were outlined to replace existing limited waiting bays in town centre areas with pay and display, designed to collect an extra income of £50,000 for the county council.
Concerns were expressed by Christchurch Chamber of Trade and Christchurch council, who described it as a “retrograde step” saying they were disappointed with the county council’s decision.
Peter Watson-Lee, president of Christchurch Chamber of Trade and Commerce said: “With the rejection by our local Christchurch council of any attempt to improve the parking regime in Christchurch, the imposition by the county council of parking meters in the High Street would be the finish of the town centre.
“We have had no consultation or explanation for what is clearly just another attempt to suck money out of anyone visiting the town.
“We do not want parking meters at all and suggesting that they be ‘put off’ for a year is no help.
“It is like being put on death row without a trial – and then being expected to be grateful for a temporary stay of execution.”
Consultations across Dorset
Matthew Piles, Dorset County Council traffic manager, said: “We are currently rolling out the introduction of on-street parking regulations across Dorset, in line with Government policy.
“The aim is to ease congestion in town centres, manage traffic more effectively and support businesses by allowing a better turn-over of customers. All income generated goes back into the road maintenance budget.
"More on-street parking has already been introduced in places such as Swanage and Dorchester, and the county council takes over highways enforcement responsibilities from Christchurch Borough Council in April.
“No specific date has been set for the introduction of wider on-street parking in Christchurch. We will carry out full consultation with both borough council members and county councillors representing the area before the scheme is implemented."
Comments(17)
speedy231278
says...
1:00pm Tue 5 Mar 13
spooki
says...
1:03pm Tue 5 Mar 13
fedupwithjobsworths
says...
1:04pm Tue 5 Mar 13
twynham wrote:Totally agree with you, it makes you wonder where they get these negative IQ Jobsworths from. Castlepoint must be rubbing their hands together in anticipation.
"The aim is to ease congestion in town centres, manage traffic more effectively and support businesses"
.
Cobblers!
fedupwithjobsworths
says...
1:07pm Tue 5 Mar 13
speedy231278 wrote:Would save even more by getting rid of Matthew Piles, Dorset County Council traffic manager as well!
You'd save £50K by getting rid of a couple of traffic wardens. Sorry, I mean Civil Enforcement Officers.
joetheman
says...
1:08pm Tue 5 Mar 13
Telscombe Cliffy
says...
1:08pm Tue 5 Mar 13
speedy231278 wrote:Just what I was thinking. Why not go further and get rid of all of them except for a couple to deal with obstruction only and random car park blitzes . Massive savings.
You'd save £50K by getting rid of a couple of traffic wardens. Sorry, I mean Civil Enforcement Officers.
Telscombe Cliffy
says...
1:20pm Tue 5 Mar 13
No it doesn't, because it conflicts with the statement a few paragraphs above it which says, -'Plans were outlined to replace existing limited waiting bays in town centre areas with pay and display, designed to collect an extra income of £50,000 for the county council'. (equal to the deficit)
coster
says...
1:51pm Tue 5 Mar 13
FNS-man
says...
2:05pm Tue 5 Mar 13
joetheman wrote:So you're going to spend 20 minutes driving to New Milton, then 20 minutes driving back, rather than spend £2 on parking? Obviously your time isn't worth very much to you.
just another reason to shop elsewhere,new milton not that far away and lots of good shops and supermarkets,leave christchurch to the bloody council and its moronic councellors.
mytown1
says...
2:18pm Tue 5 Mar 13
joetheman
says...
2:50pm Tue 5 Mar 13
FNS-man wrote:its a pleasure to drive out of Christchurch ,well worth the time to buy goods i want at a reasonable price unlike your precious town.my time is very precious to me so i wont waste it in Christchurch.
joetheman wrote:So you're going to spend 20 minutes driving to New Milton, then 20 minutes driving back, rather than spend £2 on parking? Obviously your time isn't worth very much to you.
just another reason to shop elsewhere,new milton not that far away and lots of good shops and supermarkets,leave christchurch to the bloody council and its moronic councellors.
Hessenford
says...
3:09pm Tue 5 Mar 13
'
I have never heard such poppycock in my life.
What congestion, no one goes to the town centres now because of the extortionate parking charges.
.
Manage traffic, there is none.
.
support businesses by allowing a better turn-over of customers.
There are no customers, tha'ts why town centre shops are empty and sales are down.
All income generated goes back into the road maintenance budget.
'
I get fed up with hearing this, potholes and sunken manhole covers all over the place, what's happened to the existing road budget.
.
Haven't councils or anyone else worked out that the reason high streets and town centres are dying is because or the incessant attack on the car driver through high parking charges.
This country wont be happy until every meter of highway has a parking meter drilled into the kerbstone.
skydriver
says...
4:02pm Tue 5 Mar 13
If they even think of charging Christchurch is done for, what's wrong with these idiots even to consider such an idea, I rest my case, as I have said before if they had brains they would become very dangerous indeed........yep more so than they already are. I guess it's the leader again, who thought of this one..........still I guess his days are nearly up, thank goodness.
lemonhead
says...
4:39pm Tue 5 Mar 13
Yankee1
says...
10:35pm Fri 8 Mar 13
First 30 minutes....free.
Then start charging. Roll the lost 30 minutes into the charge for the second 30 minutes of charged time.
People shop in 30 minutes. People park for other reasons longer. Win Win. More quick shoppers = more happy rate paying shops.
This Council will not get it.
bobsworthforever
says...
9:35pm Sun 10 Mar 13
twynham says...
12:53pm Tue 5 Mar 13
.
Cobblers!