Issue - meetings

Update on the Council’s Car Parking Strategy

Meeting: 16/06/2017 - Environment Overview & Scrutiny Committee - Expired 13/07/20 (Item 10)

10 Update on the Council’s Car Parking Strategy pdf icon PDF 89 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

(a)       That the phased roll out for implementing the Flint Car Parking Strategy    be recommended to Cabinet;

 

(b)       That the review of off-street parking provision, the Church Street     Cycleway and Resident Parking Scheme within Flint Town Centre be   supported;

 

(c)        That the Committee recommend to Cabinet that Buckley and Holywell        Town Councils be required to undertake informal consultation on a          potential review of pedestrian zones in the respective town centres; and

 

(d)       That the inclusion of Well Street car park into the Holywell car parking       strategy be recommended to Cabinet. 

Minutes:

The Waste and Ancillary Services Manager introduced an update on the Council’s Car Parking Strategy following its implementation in 2015.

 

            Since the approval of the Car Parking Strategy in April 2015, parking charges had been implemented in six town centres across Flintshire and as part of that strategy it was proposed to introduce charges within Flint Town Centre in September 2015.  Due to the ongoing regeneration works and the local car parks being utilised as temporary works compounds, the strategy was not progressed at the that time.  As these works were drawing to a close and car parks were being released, the Council was now in a position to progress the strategy in Flint in a phased manner, as shown in Appendix 1.

 

            Pedestrian only zones were in operation on Holywell High Street and Buckley High Street and had been established since 1992 and 2000 respectively.  It was proposed to review the pedestrian zones in both town centres and explore the possibility of placing free limited waiting parking places on both of the High Streets in order to support local businesses.  Before the formal consultation process could commence and in line with Council policy, it was proposed that the Town Councils be asked to confirm their position on the proposed changes and to undertake an informal consultation process to gauge local support (or otherwise) for the proposed changes.

 

            Parking charges were introduced to Holywell Town Centre in September 2015 in line with the Car Parking Strategy agreed by Cabinet.  A private car park owned by the Catholic Church on Well Street was previously leased to Flintshire County Council, however, when charges were removed from Holywell in 2013 the lease agreement was terminated.  A preliminary conversation had been held with the Church and they were now in support of re-establishing the previous agreement which would allow the management of the site to pass to Flintshire County Council.  

 

            Councillor Joe Johnson welcomed the proposed inclusion of Well Street car park into the Holywell car parking strategy and asked whether consideration had been given to introducing electric car charging points at car parks across Flintshire.  The Chief Officer explained that the Welsh Government would be making funding available to install electric car charging points, therefore, a report on this would be presented to a future meeting of the Committee.

 

            Councillor Vicki Perfect spoke in support of the programme to roll out the Flint Car Parking Strategy which she said was reasonable and in line with other Car Parking Strategies across Flintshire.

 

            Councillor Chris Dolphin spoke in support of removing the pedestrianised zone at Holywell Town Centre and asked that businesses owners in Holywell be consulted and suggested a trial period.  Councillor Richard Lloyd sought an assurance that the consultation on the pedestrianised zone was carried out in a way to ensure fair representation of everyone’s opinion.  The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing explained that the consultation exercise would be carried out by both Buckley and Holywell Town Council’s and they would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10