Monday, 21 February 2011

Should Parking Charges Apply in the Tenbury Wells Palmers Car Park

As Tenbury Town Council struggle to find the funds to pay numerous high energy bills for their portfolio of building, they are to discuss introducing parking fees at the Palmers Meadow Car Park.
Palmers Car Park is currently free and is used for long term parking by people working in Town and by people using the Swimming Pool complex, plus shoppers and visitors wishing the park without paying.

The car park is often full, especially now that the unofficial Cattle Market has been closed, and when there is a Rugby match, cars often clog the bus bays.

The Town Council transfer a percentage of the money raised each year from the precept into a resurfacing fund, but there will not be sufficient money saved before resurfacing is needed.  They also have to pay a large sum in rates.

Public discussion and views are welcome.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

It would be better to charge a realistic rent for the waste site and for the gym. Each should bring in thousands of pounds a year but the Council decided to undercharge for them.
Can the Council renegotiate the rental to a proper. fair, commercial level?
There is also the bus park by the swimming pool. A modest charge could be introduced for bus operators who want to use it.
The bus park is sometimes used at the weekends by players that are using the Palmers. Again, a charge could be made for this.
The rental paid for the pitches is extremely low. Compare the per person cost of playing football or tennis for an hour and a half.
Little use is made of the Burgage and some events are undercharged. For example, how much rent did the Applefest pay? Stallholders paid rent but did that go to Town Council?
You can see how unpopular car parking charges are by looking at how empty the pay and display car park often is; most of the time few people actually buy tickets, what cars are there usually have residents permits or disabled badges or simply don't pay!

@WR15 said...

I think many of the Town Council's agreements have fixed prices and can't be renegotiated.

I'm not sure if events like Applefest pay the Council rent for the Burgage.

I do know all the money paid by the stallholders is spent on advertising and infrastructure. (Marquee, Toilets, Stage etc)

I don't think that Parking charges are a simple answer. Enforcement can often cost more than is raised, but clearly the Council will have to increase their income somehow to pay for its upkeep and eventual resurfacing.

Ian said...

I returned to live in this area just over four years ago. Despite the constant complaints about parking in Tenbury, I have found that it is seldom a problem (except perhaps on Saturday mornings) provided one is prepared and able to walk a few hundred yards to the shops. I think charging to park on the Palmer’s car park will be a complete disaster. It will deter people and, because of enforcement cost, will raise little or any net revenue. Personally, rather than pay, or face the hassle of trying to find very limited on-street parking, I would then shop on my commute to work – i.e. not in Tenbury.

@WR15 said...

The Town Council are to investigate whether they can increase the rent for the waste site. They rent to WCC for £1 a year (I think). I wonder what WCC charge Severn Waste who operate the site.

I think they should be given notice to quit and forced to relocate to a more suitable location!

@WR15 said...

The Town Council are to press ahead with research into charging for parking on the Palmers Meadow Car Park. Given the long term cost of maintaining this facility I think it is probably a good idea. They are looking to charge substantially below the cost of the Pay & Display Car Park.

By comparison the costs there are
1 Hrs 50p
1 -2 Hrs £1.20
2 -4 Hrs £2.00
4+ £3.00
7 Days £5.00
6pm - Midnight £1.50
Annual Ticket £185
Residents Annual 2 Hour Ticket £15

Anonymous said...

I maintain my opinion that there should be a 10p charge for 1/2 an hour on Teme Street, in return for both car parks being free.

I drove through the Teme Street car park the other day, and it was only half full. What a total waste of off street parking, when Teme Street is total chaos.

Charging for the car park will be disastrous for the town.

@WR15 said...

It doesn't help that a number of shopkeepers and their staff persist in parking in Teme Street.