Sunday parking to stay free
Friday, 15th January 2010.
Car parking charges in Haverhill are likely to be put up by 10p in March, but there will be still no charge on Sundays.
St Edmundsbury Council's cabinet, meeting next week, is recommended to impose car parking charge increases in Bury St Edmunds and Haverhill.
The initial proposal was that charging should be brought in on Suundays as well in Haverhill, as will be happening in Bury.
But the council's Haverhill Area Working Party would not endorse this part of the proposal and it will not be pursued 'at this time', a report says.
The working party were particularly concerned about the effect of 'Sunday harmonisation' as the move in Bury is being called, if it were done in Haverhill.
The initial report says: "On weekdays drivers are influenced to park in the most appropriate car park through the charges levied. The increasing growth of Sunday trading and popularity of the town as a leisure destination has resulted in significant growth in parking demand. As a result there is the same need as on weekdays to manage where parking occurs."
However the community impact is deemed to outweigh these considerations because the range of shops open on Sundays in Haverhill is still limited.
On the issue of a general 10p increase, the report says there have been no changes to the short stay charges since 2008, the increased retail and leisure offer in the town has impacted on demand and an increase in charge will help to manage this demand and influence parking so it occurs at the most appropriate car park.
Even with the proposed increases, it says, the charges will remain low by regional comparison.
Haverhill Chamber of Commerce was consulted and said it would have no problem with an increase in charges if a system for one hour's free parking was introduced.
In practice, even if it is only 10p, lack of small change meant people end up putting in 50p or £1 anyway, the chamber says.
The new charges would come in on March 29 and would be: Ehringshausen Way up to 4 hours 90p, over 4 hours £1.70; Lower Downs Slade up to 1 hour 30p, up to 3 hours 80p; Town Hall up to 1 hour 30p, over 1 hour £1.20; Leisire Centre/Meadows up to 4 hours 90p, over 4 hours £1.70.
St Edmundsbury Council's cabinet, meeting next week, is recommended to impose car parking charge increases in Bury St Edmunds and Haverhill.
The initial proposal was that charging should be brought in on Suundays as well in Haverhill, as will be happening in Bury.
But the council's Haverhill Area Working Party would not endorse this part of the proposal and it will not be pursued 'at this time', a report says.
The working party were particularly concerned about the effect of 'Sunday harmonisation' as the move in Bury is being called, if it were done in Haverhill.
The initial report says: "On weekdays drivers are influenced to park in the most appropriate car park through the charges levied. The increasing growth of Sunday trading and popularity of the town as a leisure destination has resulted in significant growth in parking demand. As a result there is the same need as on weekdays to manage where parking occurs."
However the community impact is deemed to outweigh these considerations because the range of shops open on Sundays in Haverhill is still limited.
On the issue of a general 10p increase, the report says there have been no changes to the short stay charges since 2008, the increased retail and leisure offer in the town has impacted on demand and an increase in charge will help to manage this demand and influence parking so it occurs at the most appropriate car park.
Even with the proposed increases, it says, the charges will remain low by regional comparison.
Haverhill Chamber of Commerce was consulted and said it would have no problem with an increase in charges if a system for one hour's free parking was introduced.
In practice, even if it is only 10p, lack of small change meant people end up putting in 50p or £1 anyway, the chamber says.
The new charges would come in on March 29 and would be: Ehringshausen Way up to 4 hours 90p, over 4 hours £1.70; Lower Downs Slade up to 1 hour 30p, up to 3 hours 80p; Town Hall up to 1 hour 30p, over 1 hour £1.20; Leisire Centre/Meadows up to 4 hours 90p, over 4 hours £1.70.
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