Change on Nottingham parking charges, but it is not what traders asked for
TRADERS say changes to city centre car parking charges don't go far enough.
Nottingham City Council announced yesterday it will charge motorists a £1 flat rate in the evenings and Sundays instead of prices varying from between 50p and £5.50.
New charges were introduced in November to park in the city centre between 6pm and 8pm. The council said the changes were aimed at tackling the problem of vehicles occupying parking bays designed for short-term parking.
But after meetings with businesses the authority admitted it had "got it wrong".
The changes announced yesterday have been met with mixed reactions by traders.
Jasmin Barlow-Wilkinson, owner of Homemade café, in Hockley, has been leading a campaign to scrap evening and Sunday charges and so far almost 600 people have signed the online petition.
She said: "I think this announcement is absolutely ridiculous. We wanted them to suspend the evening and Sunday charges and they haven't done either. I am not happy. This is not what we have asked for."
Currently Hockley is the only area in the city's Zone One where motorists pay to park for a maximum of one hour.
The council wants to pilot a new scheme where businesses can buy a book of permits from the council allowing them to give an extra hour of parking to customers for on-street parking.
"We wanted the one-hour maximum in Hockley increased," Miss Barlow-Wilkinson added. "The council said they would consult us as a group before they would make any decision and they have not done this."
Nigel Fisher, owner of Café Hockley in Heathcoat Street, Hockley, said: "The permit scheme sounded like a good idea in principle, but seems a bit difficult in practice."
He also said his business has been most affected by the Sunday charges.
"I've been losing out around £100 to £150 on a Sunday since the charges were brought in," he said. "I think the changes are a step in the right direction, but not enough. The council should increase the maximum stay in Hockley, because what can you do in an hour?"
Geoff Williams, owner of Tokenhouse, in Bridlesmith Gate, said the changes were a step in the right direction.
"Finally the council is discussing what's best for the city and not what's best for bringing in money for the city council," he added.
"Any change is better than what we have now. People are not prepared to pay to park – the streets are empty."
Sylvia Oates, chief executive of We Are Nottingham, also said the proposals didn't go far enough.
Tim Foster, who owns hair salons in Hockley and in Derby Road, said he welcomed the council's announcement, which, he said, followed "a very positive dialogue" with the council.
Councillor Jane Urquhart, portfolio holder for planning and transportation at the city council, said the changes were aimed at making on-street parking simpler.
Gary Rowntree, chairman of the Nottingham Retail Business Improvement District (BID), who commissioned a parking study in conjunction with the Leisure BID, said: "We are delighted the council has responded positively to these discussions and has made some changes which address the main concerns raised by customers and retailers."
13 Comments
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by NoStoPAsking
Sunday, February 19 2012, 11:25AM
“Councillor Jane Urquhart needs voting out of office, she is a menace to Nottingham”
by starving
Monday, February 13 2012, 8:44PM
“Urquart needs to get into the real world . . .
Problem is there are a lot of them out there and to them it is the real world and unfortunately they are the ones with the power to make it the "real" world!
We are the pawns in their game remember!”
by sime64
Monday, February 13 2012, 2:20PM
“Last Sunday my girlfriend and her friend went into Nottingham for a bit of shopping, they had a meal in Chiqutos in the cornerhouse and then went to watch a film.
They had parked in Trinity square carpark and were in there just under five hours and the cost was £9.00
They had supported two buisnesses in the Cornerhouse and a few shops and were charged £9.00 for the privilage of spending their money in Nottingham.
I realalize car parks must charge, but £9.00 on a Sunday afternoon is taking the pi $$!”
by colliinn
Monday, February 13 2012, 1:57PM
“Just goes to show how out of touch our councillors are.These charges were bought in in November,just in time for Christmas against the wishes of retailers and the nottingham public.Then after so many complaints, the stupid Councillor Urquhart comes up with the classic statement "the changes were aimed at making on-street parking easier".Well if you had`ent meddled with things in November when it was FREE and the electorate happy you would`ent be in this position now.However you are still hell bent on keeping parking charges even if you have reduced them,but how long will it take you to increase these charges?.not long i`ll bet!.
YOU ARE DUPEING THE PEOPLE OF NOTTINGHAM Ms URQUHART,A TYPICAL POLITICIAN.”
by altheboss
Monday, February 13 2012, 1:17PM
“Betterlanguages.com Ltd.
Well put, and i'll re-iterate why City Centre retail will go into terminal decline.
I am a motorist, and will NEVER park in the city centre between 6.00pm and 8.00pm should these charges remain, and as for a SUNDAY charge- On yer bike.!
Riverside Retail Park/Victoria Park-Netherfield are RAMMED with shoppers Cars, and the FREE
parking that goes with it.!
Even when i go into the City now with the Missus, i stay well clear of parking meters.
As Codeblue Uk states- What's the point of two hours only, when my missus can spend that length of time in Debenhams alone.!
For Broad Marsh- It's the Car Park on the corner of Trent Street.-£3 quid for SIX HOURS.
For Viccy Centre, its Curzon Street, which is NCC run , but you get VFM parking there.
When is the penny finally going to drop with Collins and Co.!
By the time it does, it will be too late .!”
by Betterlanguages.Com Ltd
Monday, February 13 2012, 11:12AM
“I have to confess to being amazed by the City Council response to the crisis in City Centre parking caused by evening and Sunday charges. Is a flat rate of £1 better than the current situation - absolutely. Will it solve the problem - definitely not. The argument that the council want to simplify the charging structure simply doesn't wash. Charging for evening and Sunday on-street parking is killing the city centre, unless the council acts fast and scraps the charging, city centre retail will go into terminal decline.”
by codeblueuk
Monday, February 13 2012, 9:44AM
“Stop this limit of 2hrs rubbish, since when does a film (including buying the ticket and queuing) last 2hrs and I'd struggle to apply the same time limit to having a good meal in town.”
by starving
Saturday, February 11 2012, 6:07PM
“The Yellowslugs will still be sneaking around so don't forget to get a ticket quick. Don't go looking for change. Around where I work they materialise like something out of Dr Who within seconds of stopping the car!
And don't forget their wheeze for a Winter Bonus . . .snow removal from yellow lines . . .
This is expressly forbidden by their own Protocol so Appeal if it happens to you . . .”
by _Zeus_
Saturday, February 11 2012, 12:04PM
“Kumkwat
You do not have to pay to sign it
It asks for a donation, but all you do is navigate away from tje site without paying.
it says on the page that you signature has been added before you make any donations, should you wish to do so.”
by kumkwat
Saturday, February 11 2012, 10:52AM
“"I have just discovered that someone has set up an online petitio....
http://tinyurl.com/7oxfuhf" THIS IS A SCAM!! You have to pay to sign it! It must be run by the council!”