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Public urged to have their say on final list of parking recommendations

Derbyshire Dales District Council has rejected suggestions for a charge to be imposed on its popular residents’ parking permit. Charging for the permit, which is sent out free annually to all 33,000 households in the Dales, is not among the recommendations as a new round of public consultation starts this week (21 May) on proposed car parking changes in the district.

But local people can have their say on whether a charge of £100 should be introduced for anyone wanting to buy a second permit or replace a lost permit.

Meeting last week, the Environment Committee decided on the options local people will be asked to comment on online from 21 May at www.derbyshiredales.gov.uk/parkingreview and via questionnaires available from the reception desks at MatlockTown Hall, Bakewell Agricultural Business Centre and the District Council’s leisure centres in Ashbourne, Bakewell, Matlock and Wirksworth.

The recommendations are:

* Introduce the option of a half hour charge within short stay car parks

* Designate specific town centre car parks as short stay only

* Introduce a flat rate charge for evening / overnight parking from 6.00pm to 6.00am

* Increase parking charges to help keep pace with inflation

* Bring additional car parks into charge

* Offer, at a charge, a second or replacement residents’ free parking permit 

* Re-introduce a charge for the annual parking permit at the Agricultural Business Centre for livestock market traders

* Introduce parking charges for Blue Badge holders but with an additional hour free on top of any paid time

* Use parking income to carry out a machine replacement programme offering the option to pay on entry using cash, debit/credit card or phone

A campaign urging local people to have their say on the recommendations will include social media prompts and posters at the District Council’s car parks across the Derbyshire Dales. The District Council operates 33 pay and display car parks throughout the Dales and the consultation programme has already included community forums, focus groups with traders, residents, disability groups and town and parish councils.  The views of stakeholder organisations like the County Council, Visit Peak District and Chamber of Commerce have also been sought. These groups will be consulted again.

Final policy recommendations will be made in July ahead of a new car parking policy being adopted by a full meeting of the District Council on 25 July, with implementation set for 1 October this year.

Chairman of the District Council’s Environment Committee Councillor Steve Bull said: “What the review sets out to achieve is a sensible balance between the demands of the local economy and the obvious need to protect our Council Tax payers.  It would be grossly unfair to ask them to pick up the whole cost of paying for services for millions of visitors. We have listened carefully to the views of local people and organisations to date, and now we want to get more feedback on a list of final ideas we believe can boost the local economy and also give users more payment options. However, the fact is that the Derbyshire Dales receives less Government cash than any other district in the county, so we are not in a position to simply write off the income the District Council gets from parking charges. The important thing is that no decisions have yet been made and we welcome feedback on the final list of recommendations.”

The questionnaire will be available online from 21 May at www.derbyshiredales.gov.uk/parkingreview