Agenda item

To consider a report of the Group Head of Neighbourhood Services and review the provision of parking in Ashford generally.

Members of the public who have submitted comments will be in attendance at the meeting to contribute to the proceedings.

The Group Head for Neighbourhood Services presented her report on a review of the parking situation in Ashford.

She outlined the Council’s plans for improving parking in Ashford following the sale of Ashford multi-storey car park and addressed the issues raised by residents about the management of the private car park behind Ashford Antiques in Church Road.

Councillor Gething, portfolio holder for environment and compliance, commented that he was aware parking in Ashford had been a concern for residents for many years. He explained that Ashford multi-storey car park (MSCP) was well beyond its expected lifespan and with it estimated to cost

£1 million to repair the upper floors, replacement of the car park was inevitable. As it was no longer a practical option for providing parking in the town, the Cabinet had decided to dispose of it and set aside money from the sale to identify alternative parking options. One possible option was removal of the islands forming the service roads to allow cars to park nose on to the pavement, accommodating many more vehicles than at present. He confirmed that there were no current plans to charge for on-street parking but that ultimately this was a decision for Surrey County Council.

In response to the suggestion from residents that the car park could be used for airport parking, Cllr Gething said that not only would repairing the car park to accommodate such a business be commercially unviable but that previous marketing exercises had shown there was no interest in running an airport parking business from this site due to its size and lack of good access to the airport.

Councillor Williams, portfolio holder for finance, advised that the Council has a legal obligation to deliver value for money to its council tax payers, so it must look at the most cost effective way to provide parking in Ashford. Spending £5m to £6m to rebuild Ashford multi-storey car park would not provide value for money to the residents as we would be spending a disproportionate amount of the Council’s scarce funds.

In relation to the private car park behind Ashford Antiques, Cllr Gething stated that ward councillors had attempted to reach a compromise with the owners. They had been unable to secure agreement on a ten minute grace period for obtaining a valid ticket but did agree that the car park wardens would provide change for the ticket machines if needed. The owners agreed to erect signs to this effect.

The Group Head, Neighbourhood Services advised that anyone receiving a penalty ticket should follow the procedure on the parking company’s website and if not happy with the outcome of their appeal to raise their case with the parking ombudsman and/or follow the company’s complaints procedure.

The deputy Group Head, Neighbourhood Services confirmed that it was still intended to provide some public car parking spaces in the redeveloped site of Ashford MSCP and that full details including the number of spaces, would be made public when negotiations with the current purchaser were finalised.

The Vice-Chairman, Councillor Mooney, commended Michelle Arnold for raising this key issue for the Ashford community and the Committee joined in thanking her for raising the profile of this matter.

As this matter was likely to remain a concern to residents until the situation was resolved, the Chairman suggested the matter be reviewed again in six months’ time.

Resolved to:

1. note the actions taken by officers to address residents’ concerns re parking in Ashford town centre and

2. to include a review of parking in Ashford in six months’ time on the Committee’s work programme.