Changes would mean 'fairer, more consistent' approach across borough
A raft of changes to car park charging across Tonbridge and Malling are due to be considered by councillors next week.
The plans follow a review of all 46 council-owned car parks in the borough and if approved will be subject to public consultation later this year.
A key aim of the review was to explore options for creating a more consistent approach to charging and to meet rising operating costs which have grown by an average of 10 per cent in the last two years. These include overheads such as car park maintenance and business rates of £320,000 and £295,000 per year respectively.
The report to councillors puts forward options for three car parks and two on-street areas which are currently free to be brought into line with the rest of the borough and see charges introduced. The locations are:
- The two Bailey Bridge car parks in Aylesford
- Martin Square car park, Larkfield
- On-street parking in Swan Street and the High Street in West Malling
The new charges would start at 60p for half an hour’s parking, rising to £3.80 for four hours. It’s estimated that the combined annual income from introducing these charges would be £130,000. If approved, the plans would also see loss-making pay and display bays in Avebury Avenue, Tonbridge, switched to permit parking.
Councillors will also consider extending the charging period for car parks to 8pm from its current end time of 6pm. The options report also notes that, unlike Tonbridge and Malling, most local authorities in Kent charge for Sunday and bank holiday parking. It’s estimated that extending charges to these days could generate revenue of around £320,000 a year. Under the plans, overnight parking would remain free.
The report to Thursday’s (21/9/23) Communities and Environment Scrutiny Select Committee also sets out options for increasing car parking capacity. The closure of KCC’s Gateway service at Tonbridge Castle next year will enable visitor spaces to be switched to pay and display while longer term plans could see an expansion of nearby Upper Castle Fields car park at a cost of around £180,000. The report states that if the expansion goes ahead, children’s swings currently located close to the existing car park would be retained.
A trial of automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology is also put forward as an option at suitable locations. Car registrations would be scanned on arrival and exit from a car park with payment required to allow departure through a barrier. The report to councillors says such a scheme would mean lower staff costs linked to checking parking tickets while also reducing the number of parking penalties issued.
Cllr Martin Coffin, Cabinet member for Transformation and Infrastructure, said: ‘Many residents who must pay for parking have questioned why elsewhere in our borough it’s provided free. These changes will see a fairer and more consistent charging regime apply across our car parks so that the cost of delivering this service is shared more equally among users. Where we have introduced charging, we’ve found that there’s more turnover in use of spaces, leading to increased footfall in the local shops and facilities.
‘We also must continue to make sure our parking income can meet the cost of providing the service. While we haven’t increased charges for two years, our running costs have risen significantly. Extending the periods when charges apply will help ensure we have high quality car parks for residents and allow us to invest in creating additional capacity where it is needed.’