Parking charges for county staff

EAST Sussex County Council is to charge its huge workforce for parking at all its sites in Lewes including County Hall, Pelham House and the Castle Precincts car park.

The measure is likely to be introduced at the same time that general on-street parking charges are brought in next year.

No decisions have been taken as yet about how the parking scheme will be administered.

But the the level of charges will equate with public on-street charges so that there is a level playing field.

It has long been a bone of contention that local authority staff have had free parking in Lewes while the rest of Lewes workers and residents have to make do with the best that they can.

If the new regime results in fewer county council car users, then there is the potential for some of the 300 current County Hall parking spaces to be released for public use.

The new county council travel plan for staff focuses on improving service delivery and reducing the impact of commuter traffic in Lewes.

Its measures are designed to encourage the 1,300 staff at County Hall to consider alternatives to the private car for commuting, and develop new ways of getting to work. A car-share club has already been introduced.

A bike-user group has been established that will encourage more staff to cycle to work, and more pool cars have been introduced so that staff who do not bring their cars to work can travel on council business.

Said transport lead member Cllr Tony Reid: 'The present haphazard approach to commuting and parking doesn't serve anyone well. We hope through the travel plan and a managed parking regime to encourage staff to think about options other than driving.'

Unison spokesman Tony Watson said: 'We have taken part in the discussions. There has to be regard to the level of charging. Some workers have contracted use of their cars for their jobs and their position would need to be looked at.

'If there is to be reduced commuting into Lewes, then there has also got to be improved bus and rail services.'

Lewes District Council, the other large local authority based in Lewes, has comparatively few parking spaces for its staff in the town.

It will lose its only sizeable car park when the grounds of Lewes House are redeveloped for housing.

That will leave just four spaces for council workers at Lewes House and some 20 at Southover House.

All those spaces will be for staff with a 'high operational need' for a car..