Just one response to Chichester parking consultation

A consultation into plans to increase car park charges in the Chichester district received only one response.
Chichester's Northgate Car ParkChichester's Northgate Car Park
Chichester's Northgate Car Park

The consultation, which was launched days before Christmas, asked people for their views on plans which would add 10p per hour to many tariffs.

With the one respondent offering no comments and raising no objection, the changes were given the go-ahead at a meeting of the cabinet on Tuesday (February 2).

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From April, stays of more than 30 minutes in the city’s short-stay car parks will increase by 10p, though stays of between three and six hours will be cheaper.

This will affect the car parks at Orchard Street, St Cyriacs, South Pallant, East Pallant, Market Avenue/St John’s, Market Road, Market Avenue, New Park and Cawley Priory.

In the long-stay car parks in Avenue de Chartres, Basin Road, Cattle Market and Northgate – as well as Westgate – there will be increases for stays of more than an hour.

There will be no change to the Sunday charges in the long-stay car parks and no change to any charges at Little London, in Baffins Lane.

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With many people spending at least part of their week working from home, the council reported a demand for part-time season tickets.

From April, on a trial basis, part-time x-roving tickets will be available for £34 per month.

These can be used three days per week and are valid in the Basin Road, Cattle Market and Northgate car parks.

In November, mayor Richard Plowman (Lib Dem, Chichester North) told the council that many retailers were ‘on the knife edge’ and warned that increasing parking tariffs would act as a ‘deterrent to visitors coming to the city centre or high street when they can get most of what they need online’.

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Increasing Chichester parking charges ‘a further deterrent to visitors’
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Whether it was because the consultation was held over Christmas/New Year – or car parking was the last thing on people’s minds during this latest lock-down – no one bothered up to echo Mr Plowman’s fears.

Alan Sutton (Con, Fittleworth) said: “It’s quite often said that car parking charges are a problem for retailers, for the city centre, for various car parks.

“In fact it doesn’t appear to be evidenced by the responses from the public.

“It appears that what objections there are – if there are any – are very few and very far between.”