Local Business Network
Local Business Issues & Hot Topics
Action plan / Reports
Local Product / Service Search
Local Training Opportunities/Issues
Message Boards
Business Newsletters
Business Links
Business Library
Crowborough.Info
|
|
|
Discuss this article in our forums Car Park Charges in Crowborough and Wealden District Council’s medium term financial strategy.
A very limited and time restricted consultation on their intention to introduce car parking charges in Crowborough and other larger towns in Wealden was carried out in February by Wealden District Council (WDC).
Within a matter of about 7 working days, over 5800 signatures petitioning against such charges were collected throughout Crowborough and handed in to WDC on 25th February. This petition was initiated and organised by the Business Group of The Crowborough Partnership, had the full support of local businesses with the production of the petitions sponsored by Crowborough Town Council. Towns such as Heathfield, Uckfield and Hailsham undertook a similar exercise and produced much the same reaction against the proposals, handing in their petitions in March.
WDC responded to the significant outburst of reaction to their intentions and consultation process by agreeing to put their plans on hold and to adopt a different approach by involving one of their Review Committees to look at a range of options to address WDC’s anticipated shortfall in their budgets for the years 2005/06 and beyond. These options included potential cessation of services or parts of services as well as a reduction in standards of services. Naturally, these options also included income generation from every source and ‘must include car park charges’.
The review process is being undertaken by one of WDC’s Overview and Scrutiny Committees during June and July and ‘evidence’ and views are being sought from representative groups and individuals.
Views and comments are also invited to be posted on this web site as a matter of urgency from anyone in Crowborough or elsewhere in Wealden as a contribution to the local debate.
2 Crowborough District Councillors have set out their personal viewpoints which cannot be attributable to WDC. The letter from The Business Group of the Crowborough Partnership is also included.
The Business Group
The Crowborough Partnership
Reply address; Pavane House, Church Road, Crowborough TN6 1BL
25th February 2004
Mr Mike Fleming
Director of Technical Services
Wealden District Council
Crowborough
Dear Mike,
Petition against the introduction of Car Parking Charges
in Crowborough
Having spoken to Martin Garrett, I am aware that this petition cannot be formally introduced to WDC without the usual two weeks notice. However, he did assure me that the process would remain the same irrespective of the timing.
I will be writing to David Glover later today on behalf of the Business Group in response to the questionnaire that has been circulated but wanted to deliver this petition to the council offices before 10 am this morning to fulfil my obligations and commitments to the local community.
The number of names within the petition are in the region of just over 5790. (update = just over 5800)
If at all possible, I would appreciate access to these forms as it could prove useful in our continuing attempts to revitalise the local economy in Crowborough.
Kind regards
Yours sincerely
Tony Slack
The Business Group
The Crowborough Partnership
Reply address; Pavane House, Church Road, Crowborough TN6 1BL
25th February 2004
Mr David Glover
Head of Waste and Street Services
Wealden District Council
FREEPOST SEA 10050
Crowborough
East Sussex TN6 1DH
Dear David,
Car Park Charging Consultation - Crowborough
I am writing in response to the questionnaire that was copied to me by a Wealden District Councillor who knew of my specific involvement with The Business Group of The Crowborough Partnership.
However, I will confine my contribution on behalf of that Group to the invitation to make ‘Any other comments’.
First of all, there is dismay and surprise at the inadequacy of the ‘consultation’ process and timescale for response let alone the incomplete information offered. My personal experience of WDC is that officers are very good and very supportive; this consultation process is below the usual high standard and it suggests lack of thought and the avoidable expediency of action by the decision/ policy makers.
Secondly, the lack of a specific question on the questionnaire asking if people wanted car parking charges has been clearly answered ‘NO!’ by the 5700 or so names on the petition that was only out on the streets for about a week.
It is strongly believed that Crowborough, of all the towns in the mid to north part of Wealden, is most likely to be adversely affected by any introduction of car parking charges in the town. It is so close and has such easy access to Tunbridge Wells that Crowborough residents and those within its normal catchment area will travel there if they have to pay local car parking charges.
The whole thing is being introduced in a piecemeal fashion. For example, car parking charges within ‘supermarket’ car parks does not appear to have been considered – what discussions have taken place with, say, Waitrose and what will WDC’s policy be over parking in supermarkets generally? I have just read that ESCC is going to conduct a feasibility study on a car parking strategy in Crowborough’s town centre. To what extent does that dovetail with WDC’s intentions to introduce car parking charges? Over the past 4/5 years, a Crowborough Signing Strategy has been evolving supported, amongst others, by WDC. ESCC has already funded consultant’s fees in recent years and has agreed now to include circa £25k for its implementation during the next financial year and Free Parking has been included on all the appropriate signs. If WDC goes ahead with its plans, it is assumed that they will cover all the costs of replacing the appropriate signs advocating Free Parking.
The Unique Selling Point that Crowborough has is its current Free Parking and that attracts shoppers from the Tunbridge Wells area from what business people tell us. The recent petition confirms the extent of people who shop in Crowborough but who live elsewhere; anecdotal evidence from some local business and individual shoppers tells us much of that business will go elsewhere other than Crowborough and North Wealden.
Much of the regeneration and revitalisation initiatives that are being undertaken in Crowborough at present are being totally undermined by the intention to introduce car parking charges. The work being undertaken by The Business Group, the excellent work and plans being progressed with much input from enthusiastic local business people is gaining recognition as good practice and being applauded by a range of agencies, including some WDC departments.
A comprehensive Business Opinion Survey was carried out by the Business Group two years ago. 92 of the 400 businesses responded which is a very high return for such research. The most important issue and threat for 78% of them was the introduction of Car Parking Charges in Crowborough. These fears were not confined to retailers at that time; the most recent petition produced much the same response.
Businesses are saying that they will either have to pay staff that currently travel to work in Crowborough extra to cover the car parking charges or run the risk of existing and potential recruits not working in Crowborough. Some market sectors have enough difficulty now in attracting and retaining staff.
Car parking charges will result in more on street parking. Those streets near the town centre will experience more street parking than at present and local residents will have just cause to complain and ask for remedial action.
Bus services in and around Crowborough are inadequate now, so many folk say. Existing car owners may be discouraged from using their car if charges are introduced but to what extent will WDC provide alternative and more frequent public transport to enable that to happen?
Current car parking is inadequate to the point that many cars are parked illegally (without enforcement) and much short term stay parking in restricted areas on the streets is actually ‘long term’ taken up by staff in shops an offices. Mention has been made that charging for car parks may result in ‘wardens’ being financed from the proceeds of charging. Sussex Police have included funding for 2004/05 for an extra 170 (I believe) Community Support Officers throughout Sussex, 50 of those are earmarked for posts within East Sussex so the need for ‘wardens’ is not that important.
There are no doubt many other points that can and will be made over the coming months but the Business Group really believes that, as with many large organisations, the WDC should look more closely at savings and economies within itself before it chooses to go down the route of introducing car parking charges in selected towns. It is appreciated that this ‘review’ process is being undertaken but a complete review of the entire WDC is something that is required and logical before such a drastic step as dispensing with such an important selling point as Free Parking.
As an aside, I have enclosed a number of questionnaires that have been sent to me rather than you. There could well be additional petition forms that I will pass on to you.
I hope you had a good break. Sorry you had to come back to all of this – we did not want it either!
Kind regards
Yours sincerely
Tony SlackDiscuss this article in our forums |
