Last plea for parking sense
News Archive > General > Last plea for parking sense
A ST AUSTELL councillor will fight the town’s corner before a Cornwall Council advisory panel makes a recommendation tomorrow on a proposal to increase charges at three of its main car parks by more than 70 per cent.Cllr Steve Double, Poltair representative, has been given permission by the committee chairman Andrew Wallis to address the panel.
The Voice told recently fears have been expressed St Austell town centre’s rebirth could be destroyed following plans to increase charges at Polkyth, West Hill and Priory car parks for the first hour from 70 pence to £1.20.
The paper printed a coupon for residents to object to Cornwall Council’s plans due to our belief the authority’s duty must be to enable growth and prosperity, not stifle it.
Responses to the public consultation will be considered by the panel along with the views of councillor Double before a report and recommendation is made to Cornwall Council’s Cabinet, which will have the final say.
Cllr Double said: “I spoke to the panel chairman and he has allowed me to present the case for St Austell.
“I will be calling for a car park increase for St Austell that is less than what is being proposed.
“The council is proposing a 71 per cent increase just when the town centre is getting back on its feet. There are concerns the car park charges will hinder that. Car park charges should be kept low in the immediate future to give the town a chance to establish itself as a shopping centre.
“Hopefully I will be able to persuade the panel to keep any increases in St Austell to a minimum.”
Cornwall Council’s 71 per cent car park proposal for St Austell is part of its draft revised off-street parking order, which sets out am average five per cent increase in car park charges across the county.
The authority states St Austell’s increase follows an arrangement agreed by the former Restormel Council to keep parking charges at 2005/06 levels to encourage shoppers into the town while the redevelopment was being built.
Among the changes in the new order include plans to discontinue the former Restormel Council residents’ discount card, which allowed reduced parking rates in certain borough car parks, a consistent policy in respect to charging blue badge holders, the introduction of regulations to effectively enforce all the public car parks operated by the council and the addition of some car parks and the removal of others.
