Nottingham city centre parking charges reduced after outcry
PARKING charges for evenings and weekends in Nottingham city centre are to be reduced after public outcry over recent increases.
City centre businesses and residents have been protesting about the changes Nottingham City Council made to parking charges last November.
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Nottingham City Council has announced plans to 'simplify' weekend and evening parking charges after complaints from businesses and residents.
This included an extension of evening restrictions from 6pm to 8pm, and the introduction of charges on Sundays from 8am to 8pm.
But the council has now responded to the concerns raised by replacing tariffs with a £1 flat fee for Sundays and evenings from 6pm, with effect from April.
In Zone 2 parts of the city, the £1 flat rate will apply on weekday evenings from 5pm.
There will also be a pilot permit introduced allowing customers to overstay parking limits by one hour in Hockley and on Derby Road. This will be available for businesses and customers.
Said Coun Jane Urquhart, the council’s portfolio holder for planning and transportation: “We introduced changes to on-street parking tariffs last year to better manage on-street parking, to increase turn-over and to help boost trade in the city.
“During this process we actively invited comments and suggestions from businesses and retailers on how we could improve things and what could be done differently. As a result, we have made changes to make parking on-street simpler.”
The news has been welcomed by local businesses.
Businessman Tim Foster, who owns hair salons in Hockley and on Derby Road, said: “I welcome the council’s response. I have had a very positive dialogue with them and they have listened to the concerns I have had about what the impact of changes to on-street parking restrictions could be.
And Gary Rowntree, chairman of the Nottingham Retail Business Improvement District, said: “We have had a number of meetings with Nottingham City Council over the past few months to discuss the issue of parking charges and our levy payers’ concerns about the increase in charges. We are delighted that the council has responded positively to these discussions and has made some changes now which address the main concerns raised by customers and retailers.
“The Retail BID, in conjunction with the Leisure BID, has commissioned a parking study and when we have the results of this, which is likely to be in May, we will be in a much stronger position to help shape a parking strategy for the city that will enable it remain a top shopping destination.”
See tomorrow's Nottingham Post for full analysis and reaction to the changes.
27 Comments
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by smshogun
Saturday, February 11 2012, 1:34AM
“Nobody has all the answers, thats why the two most important skills are listening and being able to make sound judgements based upon needs and not agendas.”
by Smith1980
Friday, February 10 2012, 9:12PM
“Infamy
That's fair enough. I'm not sure that the private sector or a "business" leader would have all the answers.”
by mattgaltress
Friday, February 10 2012, 8:25PM
“BethanyW, the idea was to stop people parking all day and to enable others to get in.”
by paulr27
Friday, February 10 2012, 8:24PM
“I have just discovered that someone has set up an online petition calling for the evening and Sunday parking charges to be completely scrapped. Please will all Nottingham Post readers make an effort to sign this important petition and forward to as many friends, work colleagues and relatives to sign as well.
http://tinyurl.com/7oxfuhf
After less than 48 hours there are already many hundreds of people signed. I predict that if figure reaches to above ten thousand then we may well see Ms Urquhart resign or get sacked!”
by Forlogson
Friday, February 10 2012, 8:07PM
“I fixed this paragraph for you:-
'Said Coun Jane Urquhart, the council's portfolio holder for planning and transportation: "We introduced changes to on-street parking tariffs last year to increase turn-over, to increase turn-over and to increase turn-over.'”
by smshogun
Friday, February 10 2012, 6:00PM
“This could be a form of that classic trick of introducing an inflated charge and then reducing it once its installed, and from what i've seen it is.
It works very simply, you introduce an inflated charge then once protests arise you reduce it, you still have the income from the reduced charge, but the bonus from the inflated charge, and then the PR aspects of being able to claim you listened to the public.
Its a classic.”
by BethanyW
Friday, February 10 2012, 5:37PM
“I fail to understand how by increasing the cost of parking Councillor Urquhart can say that it was the aim to 'boost trade' in the city. This is utter nonsense. By increasing the cost of parking trade is booted away from the city - I would have thought that such an obvious point had been to our councillors by the well paid senior officers.”
by kumkwat
Friday, February 10 2012, 5:21PM
“For me, this is even worse than before. Idiots.”
by Infamy_Infamy
Friday, February 10 2012, 5:20PM
“Smith1980 - I meant electing an independent local business leader to lead the city (rather than a politician). I didn't mean that only independent businesses should get a vote (that would be both undemocratic and difficult to organise). Apologies for any misunderstanding (wording not great).”
by paulr27
Friday, February 10 2012, 5:11PM
“Since businesses are currently losing thousands of pounds per day and permanent long term damage is likely why are the council dithering and taking so long?”