A PARKING strategy for Alresford will be on hold until Hampshire County Council determines whether it will take back responsibility for on-street parking.

The authority first announced in September last year that it was planning to centralise parking services across the county, but it was withdrawn at the last minute following opposition. However, the council has said it will be revisiting the decision in March.

Winchester City Council was about the strategy by Cllr Fiona Isaacs, following a number of requests from the town council.

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A meeting was held in February 2020, shortly before the first lockdown, which highlighted a range of issues relating to on-street enforcement on East Street, West Street and Broad Street, along with options for a potential introduction of a controlled parking scheme as well as a new off-street car park in the Dean.

Cabinet member for economic recovery Cllr Martin Tod said: “It has proved harder to make progress on resolving the on-street issues – due primarily to the uncertainty caused by the County Council’s proposal to take back the on-street parking agency.

All published papers so far have made it clear that Hampshire propose to run the service on a full cost recovery basis – which, since they have very little car park revenue to share the cost of enforcement – poses severe challenges to the kind of strategic options that the city council and town council were keen to pursue in Alresford – such as continuing to offer free 1 hour or 90 minute parking on East Street, West Street and Broad Street – with new more efficient and effective models of enforcement. While we do not yet know the details of the County Council’s plans, we have asked that they commit to a joint parking and access strategy for Winchester, Alresford and our other market towns – where it’s essential that off-street and on-street parking policies are closely coordinated – and that both meet the need of local businesses and residents – as well as wider air quality and climate change objectives.

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“As soon as we have clarity on Hampshire’s plans we will report back on a revised timetable for an integrated parking and access plan for Alresford and for our district’s other market towns.”

Cllr Tod highlight that despite the delay some proposals have been implemented or are in the process such as a revised pricing scheme to reflect the new Mid-Hampshire Railway lease as well as new on-street bike parking and new EV charging in the off-street car parks.

 

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