Dales residents invited to have their say on parking review
Derbyshire Dales District Council is asking local people for their views on possible changes to its car parking policy.
The council undertook a detailed parking policy review in 2013 when a number of changes were approved and implemented.
Other recommendations were put on hold for further consultation and this process has now started, giving people an opportunity to have their say on the possibility of charging for some existing free car parks and revising charges for season tickets.
The free car parks in question are Ashbourne’s Cokayne Avenue, Cromford’s Market Place and Lime Yard, Matlock’s Edgefold Road and Wirksworth’s Canterbury Road and North End.
An online questionnaire can be completed now at http://www.derbyshiredales.gov.uk/parkingreview, inviting feedback on the possible revision of charges for season tickets, permit holder car parks and three and seven-day permits, bringing some existing free car parks into charge and making some existing free car parks available for permit holders only.
A District Council spokesperson said: “It’s important to stress that no decisions have yet been made. Feedback from this survey will go to a meeting of the District Council on 16 November when councillors will consider whether to make further changes to the parking policy.
“We are not proposing to change any other aspect of the existing Parking Order and our residents should note that the annual Residents’ Free Parking Concession issued to every household annually is not part of this review.”
The spokesperson added: “People will of course ask us why we are considering changes to the existing policy – and we understand this.
“The fact is that successive central government grant cuts, including a further 20% for 2017/18, make it harder than ever for us to provide the front line services that residents need.
“We have to find additional ongoing savings of £1.6 million over the next three years and, if possible, aim to do this without substantially increasing the financial burden on Derbyshire Dales Council Tax payers. This means we have no choice but to explore new income areas and to continue to review all our services to achieve further savings and efficiencies.”
The deadline for submissions is 18 September. For further information, please contact carparks@derbyshiredales.gov.uk, visit http://www.derbyshiredales.gov.uk/parkingreview or call 01629 761392 or 01629 761302.
A summary of the results from the consultation will be published on the District Council’s website seven days before the District Council meets in November.
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For more information, please contact: Jim Fearn on 01629 761195 / 0780 4019123, email: jim.fearn@derbyshiredales.gov.uk or Cara Marchant on 01629
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