Comments can be submitted to [email protected]. Elements of the proposals will also be presented to the council’s Joint Transportation Board at their next meeting, currently scheduled for 22 June 2017.
A formal statutory consultation on the proposed phase one scheme will then take place and the feedback will be considered before a final decision by Cabinet is made.
The schemes are being proposed to help meet income generation targets and positively impact on parking issues in the district. More information is available on the parking schemes and their locations.
There are currently five off-street car parking areas that are free of charge. Changing these to pay and display with an hourly charge, in line with other areas, will help the council achieve a balanced budget amidst the £2m reduction in central government funding and help it meet its 2017/2018 income generation targets.
Leopold Street multi-storey, Mill Lane multi-storey, Harold Road car park and Vere Road car park will remain free on Saturdays. Due to popular demand, the Mill Lane multi-storey car park in Margate has extended its opening hours to 11:30pm during the summer months *.
There are also a number of on-street parking areas around the district where the council is proposing a resident parking scheme/pay and display zones. Charging ensures that on street spaces turn-over at an appropriate rate as motorists need to return to their vehicle at set times. Additional income generated will be used to help maintain our current parking stock and ensure we can invest in future technological solutions like automated number plate registrations car park entry, solar power ticket machines and smart parking signs.
These proposals, which include marking out parking bays in priority areas, will help address the issues of inconsiderate parking for residents, improve pedestrian safety and encourage traffic flow. The proposals will allow for disabled badge holders to park within any pay and display bay by using their blue badge.
*Summer months are from 1st April to 31st September
Further information
- There have been no significant parking price rises since 2009 in Thanet.
- Parking charges increased by on average 20p her hour from 1 April 2017, predominantly within town car parks. Where car parks have been increased by more than 20p her hour, daily rates have been strictly capped. The council has worked hard to protect resident’s permits and increases are primarily seasonal with efforts made to keep traffic flowing in summer months.
- Parking enforcement is taken seriously with 17,000 tickets issued in 2016 compared to 12,500 in 2015.
