Isle of Wight Council (Parking Places) Order No 1 2004 APPENDIX A

Parking Area	Number of Responses		Comments		Remarks
The Heights, Sandown	25 letters plus 2 petitions of 13 & 44 signatures.		The majority of letters are from users of The Heights Leisure Centre who object to the withdrawal of the free parking facility, other comments complain about paying to visit the Council offices.		There is no sustainable reason for not charging at this prime location, charges are levied at parking areas adjacent to other attractions elsewhere such as the Waterside Pool at Ryde and West Wight Swimming Pool. A system of double ticketing could be investigated whereby parking fees were refunded but there may be VAT implications.
The Arborteum / Medina Theatre, Newport	30 letters plus 2 petitions of 13 & 672 signatures		Petitions and a number of the letters object to charges to park to use the leisure centre / swimming pool. A number of letters are from teachers and sixth form pupils at Medina High School who use the car park because of lack of space within the school’s own facilities. Concerns that displaced parking may obstruct access road.		Similar remarks apply. Medina High School car park has space for 61 vehicles. Parking guidelines suggest 62 spaces are appropriate for an educational establishment of this size.
Warnes Lane, Brighstone	42 letters plus 2 petitions of 71 & 562 signatures.		Many of the objections are from parents of children attending Brighstone CE Primary School who are encouraged to use the car park as part of a Safer Routes to School initiative. Other concerns relate to increased congestion as a result of increased on street parking and also concerns that charges will affect tourism and the viability of local shops and businesses.		Use of the car park for school drop off / pick up is appropriate. This can be managed either by the issue of permits or writing an exclusion into the parking order exempting vehicles for up to 15 minutes at school start / finish times. The introduction of parking charges in other tourist areas has not acted as a deterrent and is not expected to have a significant impact in Brighstone.
Fort Victoria Country Park, Yarmouth	13 letters		Principally, objections come from the businesses and tourist attractions based at the Country Park who feel that charges will deter visitors and hence threaten the viability of their business. Some also question the financial viability of installing meters and patrolling them.		Experience elsewhere does not support the view that tourists are deterred by car parking charges. Charges are currently levied at Alum Bay and Blackgang Chine. Visitors taking advantage of Tourist Tickets would not incur any additional costs and can cost as little as £2.80 per day for unlimited use.
High Street, Carisbrooke	21 letters plus 2 petitions of 6 & 1792 signatures		Main concerns are about the effect charges will have on the viability of local shops, residents are also concerned that there is very little on street parking in Carisbrooke and they have no choice but to use the car park. Other concerns relate to the effect on parents dropping off and picking up children from school. Churchgoers and users of the adjacent hall will be affected.		Free parking at such locations is no longer sustainable or consistent with parking policy. Residents will still benefit from free overnight parking and those living within 100 metre radius would currently be eligible for a discounted residents permit at £80 p.a. The use of the car park for dropping of and picking up children should not be discouraged and can be managed with permits or a 15 minute exemption as suggested for Brighstone.
Appley Park, Ryde	18 letters		A number of the objectors make reference to a covenant on the land that they feel prevents charges being levied. Other objections come from beach hut owners who feel they already pay heavily for use of the facilities.		The Property Services Manager has not identified such a covenant. This is consistent with charges made for other facilities and the fact that charges for parking were previously levied by Medina Borough Council until 1995 when the present concession was introduced.
Puckpool Park, Ryde	16 letters		Similar objections from beach hut owners, also there are concerns that charging will deter people from using the facilities within Puckpool Park with financial consequences.		Experience elsewhere does not support the view that tourists are deterred by car parking charges. Charges are currently levied at other attractions. Tourist Tickets are available to all and holders would not incur any additional fee to park, and can cost as little as £2.80 per day for unlimited Islandwide use.
Brannon Way, Wootton Bridge	20 letters plus a petition of 920 signatures.		Charges would be a huge blow to local regeneration initiatives and have an adverse effect on the viability of local shops and the Community Centre. Residents are concerned at the loss of the free facility as there is limited on street parking available.		Free parking at such locations is no longer sustainable or consistent with parking policy. Residents will still benefit from free overnight parking and those living within 100 metre radius would currently be eligible for a discounted residents permit at £80 p.a. free, time limited on street parking is available in High Street fronting the shops there.
Whale Chine, Military Road, Chale	11 letters.		Concerns that people will park on highway verges to avoid paying in the car park. A number question the viability of charges at such a remote location.		This is not the experience at Hanover Point, nr Compton Bay where the National Trust already charge for car parking. Parking on the verge usually only occurs when the parking area is full. Estimated income for a full year is calculated to exceed set up costs.
Chilton Chine, Military Road, Brighstone	2 Letters		A number of objectors question the Council’s ownership of this area and therefore the right to charge for parking.		Property Services Manager cannot find any trace of ownership. Responsibility was assumed as it featured in South Wight Borough Council’s Parking Places Order prior to Unification. If charges were no longer to be levied, the Council would be unable to fund future maintenance work.
Seaclose Park, Newport	11 Letters		Users of the sports and recreational facilities at Seaclose object to the loss of free parking, other concerns are from staff at Seaclose about workplace parking charges and the effect on public visitors		See comments on The Heights, Sandown. The issue of workplace parking and Integrated Travel Plans for Council staff is due for consideration by Executive on 21^st April. Public visitors to Jubilee Stores are issued with special permits and a similar arrangement can be put in place for callers at Seaclose.
County Hall Complex, Newport	5 letters of objection plus one petition of 106 signatures, 2 letters of support		Objections are from staff opposed to car park charges for Isle of Wight Council staff. Some feel there is already insufficient space without allowing public access. Other concerns relate to security / access for Magistrates Court.		Advertised proposals were to formalise the process whereby parking at County Hall can be used by the public at non operational times, ie Christmas. They will also facilitate any changes consistent with any Integrated Travel Plans agreed by the Council after consultation with employee representatives.
The Parade, Cowes	6 letters		Winter charges will further deter people from using the town and inevitably affect the sustainability of local shops. Charges will penalise the indigenous population.		These changes are for operational reasons. At present both are subject to maximum of 4 hour limited waiting to prevent commuter parking however charges are only levied in the summer period. Despite extensive signing, large numbers of excess charge notices are issued as the public perceive there are no restrictions as the machines are covered up. All year charging will result in fewer ECN’s
The Common, Yarmouth	4 letters		Winter charges will adversely affect local trade
Pier Road, Seaview	4 letters		Car park is predominately used by residents, displaced parking on street will increase congestion.		See comments on High Street, Carisbrooke.
Botanic Gardens, Ventnor	3 letters		Charges for short stay are too high and do not allow visitors to make proper use of the facilities		The charges are determined by the Botanic Gardens themselves and the area administered by Engineering Services for a management fee.
St Marys’ Road, Cowes	1 letter		Loss of free on-street parking will deter people from using the town.		Both roads currently have Residents’ Only parking and are adjacent to Pay & Display Car Parks. 75% of spaces are available for 2 hour free parking and residents are being disadvantaged as a result. The introduction of on-street charges will prevent non-residents from escaping charges and improve availability for residents. Resident permit holders will be exempt.
New Street, Newport	43 signature petition		Residents are concerned that they already have difficulty parking and Pay & Display will only make matters worse.
Viewpoint Car Park, Bouldnor	2 letters		Question the financial viability of introducing charges, concerns that displaced parking will be a hazard.		The anticipated income will cover installation / set up costs within two years. Displaced parking is not expected to be an issue.
The Broadway, Totland	5 letters		Local people may well stop using local businesses, which would be detrimental to the area. Previous studies suggested it was uneconomic to charge,		The predicted income will cover installation / set up costs within two years.
Smugglers Haven, Bonchurch	13 letters		The majority of objections refer to the general loss of free car parks in the Ventnor area and that charging would not be cost effective. Charging would be contrary to regeneration efforts being made through the Market Town Initiative and will be an impediment to the development of the local tourist industry. Will affect residents who have no off street parking.		Free parking in such locations is no longer sustainable or consistent with parking policy. Residents will still benefit from free overnight parking and those living within 100metre radius would currently be eligible for a discounted residents permit at £80 p.a. All four parking areas are expected to recoup their set up costs in the first full year of operation.
Wheelers Bay, Ventnor	17 letters
Dudley Road, Ventnor	17 letters
East Cliff, Ventnor	10 letters
GENERAL COMMENTS
Charges will have an adverse effect on tourism		12 letters		Experience elsewhere does not support the view that tourists are deterred by car parking charges. Charges are currently levied at Alum Bay and Blackgang Chine. Visitors taking advantage of Tourist Tickets would not incur any additional costs and can cost as little as £2.80 per day for unlimited use. Charges compare favourably with mainland charges.
Displaced parking will be a hazard		2 letters		It is not anticipated that this will a significant issue at any of the proposed locations. If problems do arise, traffic management measures can be considered.
Charges in rural areas will have an adverse effect on AONB and Heritage Coast. Will lead to parking on the verges along the Military Road.		10 letters		See comments re Whale Chine above. Particular attention will be given to appropriate and sympathetic signing. Methods of charging other than Pay & Display machines have been considered but none are appropriate given the rural locations concerned.
Question whether it is financially viable to charge at some of the more remote locations		9 letters		Generally this package of measures is estimated to increase income by £117,000 after set up costs in the first full year. Some more remote areas will not recover their individual costs until the second year. Income generation is only one factor to be considered in Car Park Management.
Unfair planning policies force residents to rely on off street car parks		1 letter		Policies are clearly set out in the Unitary Development Plan however do not appear to be working well. The Council is discussing with GOSE possible relaxations due to the number of developments that make no provision for off-street car parking. The sustainability of the off street £80 residents’ permits is a matter for further consideration.
Seasonal charging period should not be extended to include April		2 letters		April has been included in previous years, and covers the start of what is considered to be an extended holiday season.
Both car parks in Freshwater should have a free afternoon.		2 letters		It is policy that only one car park per town should benefit from this and there was a stated preference for this to be Moa Place rather than Avenue Road.
Charges will have a restrictive / detrimental effect on local trade.		8 letters		No evidence that this has been the case in the past.
Increase in general permits is extortionate and over three times current inflation level.		7 letters		The increases in permit charges were approved by the Executive last year.
Charges seen as indirect taxation, a ‘Stealth tax’		8 letters		Income from charges is targeted towards better public transport provision and other sustainable transport modes.