Westbury Car Parking charges

[hermes2007]

I've received two notices, including one from the Chamber of Commerce, about an important item for discussion at the 1st March Town Council Meeting which I still won't be able to attend. A report on funding options for the car parks in the town will consider the level of subsidy required based on a reply from Wiltshire Council on what the Town Council would need to contribute to keep the first half hour or hour free. The figures are not small and it should be a lively debate to consider a number of different options.

[Monica Reyes]

I really hope that the route that Frome has taken, never happens here.
We went there this morning, and as usual went to the car park behind M&S.It is usually £1 for  2 hours, but today we noticed it has been taken over by euro car park, the ones who run the Morrisons car park here. The new prices are this £2 for 1 hour or £4 for 1 and a half hours!!!!

Absolute daylight robbery, the car park was almost empty and there were people driving in and back out again. We talked to the chap on constant patrol and he said'but if you get the £4 ticket, you can get £2 back in M&S!!

Shocking isnt it? lets hope that this rip off company never get their hands on our car parks. We must fight all the way to keep our 2 hours for free.

(We eventually parked by the cheese and grain for £1 for 2 hours )

[cuthbert-murray]

the car parking in westbury is subsidised for free parking by westbury town council , which has worked very well this arrangement was maid some years back with wwdc , since the unitary council came into being its now having to change ie unless the town council pays the money wiltshire council require for the continuation of the 2 free hours parking , its not going to happen easily.
Westbury town council have paid in the past £8000.00 per anum for the free parking this year under the unitary council its risen to £80.000.00
per anum.

[Andy]

So the unitary council charges 10 times as much to Westbury Town Council than what was charged by the previous set up?

[cuthbert-murray]

in a nut shell yes, warminster have now capitulated  and will have no free parking

[hermes2007]

There was an interesting discussion about the different car parking charges in the local towns and whether Local Area Boards should help decide charges in a local area in the Wiltshire Times about a month ago with a report mentioned for March.

Review of countywide car parking charges under way
http://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/news/4847334.Review_of_countywide_car_parking_charges_underway/

I'm sure David Jenkins and the local Chamber of Commerce will be worried about the effect car parking charges will have on local businesses. Another advantage for the Supermarkets of course. Though I always get angry at having to pay to park to shop at Clarke's Village. If you think about it, paying to go and spend money is not very reasonable.

[cuthbert-murray]

Hermes all cllr's are concerned about this situation, I personally can not vote on this issue as a local trader in westbury and warminster at wiltshire council, and David Jenkins wouldn't be allowed either as he also has an interest as the chairman of the chamber of commerce even yourself would be obliged to declare your interest as a part of the hertiage shop at any town council meetings concerning this matter

[charlie finbow]

This just the sort of thing I have been warning about.  Unitary are Capped by Government, Town and Parishes are not.  I can see this happening as an attempt for Unitary staying within the Government cap whilst passing charges on making Towns increase their precept and saying, well we are within government figures.   Our retail sector is still very fragile as are many, free parking is vital for their survival.   I predict more services will be passed on for towns to pay or loose them.  At least Dick Turpin had a mask so you could see when you were being robbed.
 

[cuthbert-murray]

you are quite correct charlie we knew they would start pulling this agenda way back last year, what was the questionaire they sent to the parish and town councils what services did we want to take over, in other words here you have the bill as you can set any precept you want

[hermes2007]

An interesting exchange of views in this 'This is Wiltshire' article (and a good pic of Mike H. when he was previously Mayor). Several people have asked me about the money Wiltshire Council (not the Town Council) want to spend removing the Rotunda, but Russell obviously saw this article before me and made the same points I would, that it was obviously a design failure from the start and its removal will help that area. I think we would all like to see a greater mix of shops in the Town but we can't force them to come, only improve the shopping areas as money allows and encourage businesses to think of Westbury as a great place to be.

http://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/news/5037141.Fury_in_Westbury_as_council_ends_free_parking_subsidy/

.

http://www.whitehorsenews.co.uk/blog/?p=510

[Mike Hawkins]

I was contacted by Chris of the White Horse News today because he was aware of my opposition to the new charges Wiltshire Council plan to make for car parking in Westbury.

Wiltshire Council (WC) claimed that they needed £80000 from the Town Council to maintain car parking as "free" for 2 hours. They said that car parks cost them that amount each year.

However, they wanted £80,000 from the town council although the "free" spaces amount to less than half the car park spaces available - they therefore intend to pocket the revenues from the extra spaces as profit.

They also stated the £80000 included the cost of enforcement. These enforcement officers are not only responsible for the car parks but also all the illegal parking on the roads. Why should people who pay to park also be liable for the costs of enforcing the law against those who park illegally?

When I was Mayor, the then District Council asked for the towns to contribute towards the cost of employing these enforcement officers. I asked whether the towns would then receive the revenues raised from fines imposed in the town. No, we would pay for the enforcement officers, but all the monies raised in fines would go to West Wiltshire Council (now Wiltshire Council)!

On behalf of the town ratepayers I said, in so many words,  "get stuffed!"

I now learn, that Bradford on Avon and Melksham presently have one hour free parking for which those town councils pay nothing, and that Wiltshire Council are not intending to change this. So much much for a "uniform approach" across Wiltshire.(see WHN next week for confirmation from WC).

I ask that Wiltshire Council forget the changes they are trying to impose on us, come up with a fair system for the small market towns that do not have the big name retailers that Trowbridge, Chippenham and Salisbury have (and that will attract shoppers irrespective of the car park charges) or Park and Ride schemes such as Salisbury, or really free parking such as Trowbridge has in the multi-storey car park, consult properly and then announce any changes they wish to impose at the proper time, i.e. before the towns are expected to submit their precept requirements for the following year.

I also ask that the Unitary Councillors for Westbury act on our behalf and do not allow the current Administration to ride "rough shod" over the people of Westbury and our shop keepers!