The current car parking charges would look strange to a visitor … £1.20 for 3 hours and £3.10 for 4 hours. Things are about to change …
The proposed changes include:
- the introduction of a ‘no charge’ period of two hours
- the need to display a ticket to park for free
- no return to the car park for another free period
- the charge period – the time when a ticket must be displayed – changing from 8-4pm to 8-6pm
- charges for parking periods of more than two hours to rise by 30p
- an increase in permit charges by 6%
There is a consultation on these changes which end this Friday 21 October 2011 at 4:30 PM.
To give your comments visit http://www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/about-us/tell-us-what-you-think/current-consultations/car-parking-street-parking-order-2011 – not long left.
I was wondering how long it would take them to try and register the free parking.and how many people use it.
By printing a ticket out, this means that you can only park once. (not multi trips popping back to park). You have to key in your Vehicle Reg number…….
So much for free parking eh, another 30p for everyone else.
So is the ‘free’/suspended cost- period 4 to 6??
My understanding is no. That is, if you got a ticket at, say, 15:00, ostensibly free for two hours, you would then be at fault if you stay after 17:00. I did point out to officers that at the moment the parking attendants finish at 16:00, which saves on wages, but that under the ‘free’ parking, they will have to be employed until 18:00, albeit not 18:30. Another ‘hidden’ cost, but not now! Frankly, what is most significant is that £75k of the New Homes Bonus is being ‘vired’ to help pay for this!
Visitors confused, I for one have always been confused.
0 to 1 hour = 1 hour parking -clear to me
1 to 3 hours= another 2 hours??
3 to 4 hours= another hour
4 to 6 hours= another 2 hours
then over 6 hours = £5.. very clear to me…..
yet 4:00pm to 5:00pm is suspended charges??.
Is Sunday parking ‘free’??-suspended charges
It seems to work in Didcot. The first two hours are free there. If people want to shop then they are not discouraged from using the car park to go and shop in the town centre.
At the moment there is no requirement for a ticket after 4:00pm (16:00), so anyone purchasing a ticket at 15:00 has to pay for 0 to 1 hour (60p).
as the stuck on label informs free parking after 4:00pm…
The amount of confusing boards/notices and stickers was staggering, information overload…….
Hope they invest in new clearer boards.
Confused Col.
Maybe I was not clear. The free parking after 16:00 is going. The only reason I said “albeit not 18:30” is that it used to be free after 18:30, but will be 18:00 under the new proposals, but certainly not 16:00!
So all those who park down Wilsham Road (town centre workers) and the side roads of Audlett drive (council employees) will still park there and nothing will be saved…
I think the present system is much much better. You can park for up to one hour for 60p and up to three hours for £1.20 which isn’t a lot unless you want to use the car park a lot. After 4:00 it is free, so people can shop then if they want to save money and that includes families who can do things together after school.
But the main advantage is that you don’t have to get a ticket when parking is free which saves a lot of time and a lot of effort for people who find walking difficult. For people who have been working all day and are going to an evening event, time is of the essence.
Not everyone wants to shop after 4pm
This way is much better.
It works in Didcot.
Could anyone shed any light on who pays for the free parking in Didcot? Is it Sainsbury? Somebody has to pay for the upkeep of the parking facility.
Which 2 hours are free/suspended charges??
Another promise by Council to be elected.
Many of the shops in Abingdon are not open after 5:00pm….
I would prefer an offer of free parking when shops ARE open, (Late night shopping ??), it would certainly be cheaper for the council, to have it 3 days a week perhaps, to encourage shoppers.
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So have I got this correct:
at the moment charges are suspended after 16:00,
no ticket required, no staff to issue parking fines/Clamping etc.
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they want to have tickets printed for ALL vehicles which park. (so more costs for machine admin- empty money/fill with tickets etc). including period when charges are suspended……and you have to leave the car and cannot return again.
no wonder they will charge 90p an hour. (why not make it £1 an hour with discounts offered the longer you are parked)
Regarding who pays for the 2 hour free car parking in Didcot the answer is the retailers in the Orchard Centre. The subsidised car parking is reflected in their rents.
Outsider – that’s interesting – I didn’t know either.
Other towns have introduced refund arrangements where you get the car parking fee back when you shop in store.
I guess that in Abingdon, the free parking will be paid for by the council taxpayers.