PAPER C

POLICY COMMISSION FOR ECONOMY, TOURISM, REGENERATION AND TRANSPORT – 19 OCTOBER 2005

AGENDA ITEM : RESIDENTS PARKING (E0205)

EVIDENCE FROM Graham Pearce FROM THE ISLE OF WIGHT FEDERATION OF SMALL BUSINESSES

With regard to the proposed £50.00 parking proposal I would like to submit that this does not seem to conform to the strategy laid out in the Traffic plan. Here the Council are trying all ways to reduce dependence on the motor car but this scheme seems to enhance the use of the car for short journeys. The ability to park for 4 hours will probably prevent use of the car parks for longer stays than the proposed four hours but will probably increase car usage below this length of stay. It will also make it more difficult for visitors to find spaces.

It is imperative that Shopping Street parking is not further restricted but more diligence needs to be taken by wardens over the length of stay of parked vehicles, often belonging to shop owners avoiding payment of the annual ticket facility.

I never have seen the advantage of the Residents parking scheme as all this does is to move the parking problems further back and then the streets are empty until the evening when the local residents return home. In my view ticket parking would increase the revenue from these streets and stop the confusion that emanates from the present system.

One of the major uses of street parking seems to be the storage of motor homes when not in use for holidays. In my days of caravanning I used to store my van on a recognised park. This meant that I could drive to the area in my car, leave the car there, enjoy my break and return the van to the site. Therefore not inflicting the neighbourhood with my choice of hobby and leaving the on street parking to more suitably sized vehicles.

Graham Pearce

Isle of Wight Federation of Small Businesses