Issue - meetings

The linear parking charge trial and analysis of results be extended to March 2010.

The report of the Director of Environmental Services invited Cabinet to consider the results of the Linear Parking charge trial undertaken in town centres and shopping areas in Thanet to assess whether the arrangements to pay for parking by the minute should be made permanent.

A trial on linear on-street parking charges was introduced in July 2009 with an assessment of the impact of this on parking usage being undertaken from August up to the end of October.  The results were set out in Annex 1 of the report.  Allowing for the overall downturn in parking from 2008 to 2009 caused by the recession this showed that income levels have remained similar between the same periods in each year.  It was important to undertake the review of income as serious losses on this account could not be sustained on top of the impact of the recession.

The initial results seemed to show a different pattern of parking than was originally expected in that there are fewer shorter stays and more stays beyond 60 minutes.  The trial was based on the assumption that the pricing structure would favour “short drop” in stops.

As income levels were being sustained it was considered worthwhile to look at extending the trial until the end of the financial year and reviewing results of the trial after the longer period.

Moved by Councillor Mrs Tomlinson, seconded by Councillor Mrs Wiltshire and resolved that;

“The linear parking charge trial and analysis of results be extended to March 2010”.