On street parking charges at previously ‘free’ spots have come into force across Thanet – and the £2.30 per hour fee is causing outrage.
New meters put in place in Birchington village, Margate Old Town and both the East and West cliff areas of Ramsgate have resulted in residents expressing anger via social media channels.
The removal of free parking was first proposed in 2017 with the road order amended in 2018 following an outcry from traders, mainly in Birchington, Westgate and Westbrook.
A consultation on the amendments ran in May 2018 and received 5,300 responses. Proposals for Minnis Bay received 3,855 objections followed by Westgate with 1,282.
This resulted in the removal of The Parade, Minnis Bay and Cuthbert Road, St Mildred’s Road and Station Road in Westgate from the plans. Plans for some areas of Westbrook were also later removed.
Thanet council said the revised pay and display scheme would bring in additional annual revenue of approximately £390k per year. The aim was to plug the gap left by cuts to council grants from central government.
The charges approved in September 2019 (below) have resulted in a fee of £2.30 per hour – maximum two hours at many sites – or 20p per 10 minutes slots.
‘No planned increases’
A Thanet council spokesperson said: “In May 2018, a review of parking provision in Thanet and an extensive public consultation took place about changing a number of roads across the district from time limited bays to shared pay and display with residents’ bays. The opportunity to provide feedback on this has now closed and fees and charges for 2020 / 2021 were approved by Members last year.
“The decision was taken not to proceed with pay and display schemes in Westgate-on-Sea, Minnis Bay and Westbrook following objections received during the 2018 public consultation and a review by the Joint Transportation Board.
“On street parking charges are consistent across the whole district and there are no planned increases in the next financial year.”
Areas in the pay and display/permits order
DYL” means no waiting at any time
SYL means no waiting Mon-Sat 8am to 6pm
ROADS IN BIRCHINGTON
EASTFIELD ROAD – Change the time limited bays to shared pay and display with resident’s bays.
PADDOCK ROAD – Change the time limited bays to shared pay and display with resident’s bays.
STATION APPROACH – Change the time limited bays to shared pay and display with residents ‘bays.
ROADS IN BROADSTAIRS
BRADSTOW WAY – Introducing DYL – On the eastern side from a point 10 metres from the junction with Carlton Avenue for a distance of 7 metres in an easterly direction.
CARLTON AVENUE – (1) Change the SYL to DYL On the eastern side from a point 3 metres north of the boundary of 17/19 Carlton Avenue to a point in line with the boundary of 21/21a Carlton Avenue. (2) On the western side (a) between points 15 metres north of the northern kerbline of High Street and 15 metres south of the southern kerbline of Lawn Road; (b) between points 46 metres north of the northern kerb line of Lawn Road to a point opposite the boundary of 21/21A Carlton Avenue.
LLOYD ROAD – Change the SYL to DYL On the north-eastern side from a point 4 metres north-west of the boundary of 9/11 Lloyd Road. to a point in line with the southern boundary of 21 Lloyd Road.
PIERREMONT AVENUE – Change the SYL to DYL On the western side from a point 15 metres south of the southern kerbline of High Street to a point 50 metres south of the southern kerbline of High Street.
PAY AND DISPLAY
ELMWOOD AVENUE – Pay and Display from 10am until 6pm every day 1st April to 31st October inclusive.
On the north-western side from a point 20 metres from the junction with Joss Gap Road for a distance of 590 metres in a south-westerly direction.
ROADS IN MARGATE
CONTINENTAL APPROACH – Introducing DYL On the western side of Continental Approach from a point 16 metres from the northern kerbline of Enterprise Road for a distance of 17 metres in a northerly direction. On the eastern side from a point 16 metres from the northern kerbline of Enterprise Road for a distance of 17 metres in a northerly direction.
GLADSTONE ROAD – Introducing DYL – on both sides of the junction with Buckingham Road for a distance of 10 metres in a southerly direction.
BUCKINGHAM ROAD – Introducing DYL – on both sides of the junction with Gladstone Road for a distance of 10 metres in an easterly direction and 10 metres in a westerly direction.
THE COURTS – Introducing DYL – on both sides of both junctions with Westbrook Avenue for a distance of 10 metres in a southerly direction.
WESTBROOK AVENUE – Introducing DYL – on both sides of both junctions between points 10 metres east and 10 metres west of the junction with The Courts.
WALPOLE ROAD – Introducing DYL on the western side from a point in line with the southern boundary of 1 Walpole Road for a distance of 9 metres to a point in line with the northern boundary of 2 Walpole Road.
The Insertion of a PROHIBITION ON LOADING AND UNLOADING 9am to 6pm every day for –HIGH STREET on the eastern side from a point opposite the boundary of 80/82 High Street for a distance of 10 metres in a southerly direction.
BROAD STREET – Change the time limited bays to shared pay and display with residents’ parking scheme.
FORT ROAD Change the time limited bays to shared pay and display with residents’ parking scheme.
LOMBARD STREET Added into the residents’ parking scheme
NEW CROSS STREET Change the time limited bays to shared pay and display with residents’ parking scheme.
NEW STREET Change the time limited bays to shared pay and display with residents’ parking scheme.
THE PARADE Change the time limited bays to shared pay and display with residents’ parking scheme.
ROADS IN RAMSGATE
KEVIN DRIVE – Introducing DYL – on both sides of the junction with Saxon Road for a distance of 10 metres.
SAXON ROAD Introducing -DYL – on both sides of the junction with Kevin Drive for a distance of 10 metres.
NETHERCOURT GARDENS – Introducing DYL –on both sides of the bend from a point in line with the southern boundary of 1 Nethercourt Gardens for a distance of 10 metres to a point in line with the northern boundary of 3 Nethercourt Gardens.
PAY AND DISPLAY PARKING PLACES WITH SHARED RESIDENTS’ PARKING SCHEME
CLIFF STREET- The existing free on street parking becomes pay and display parking places with shared residents’ parking scheme.
NELSON CRESCENT– The existing free on street parking becomes pay and display parking places with shared residents’ parking scheme.
PARAGON — The existing free on street parking becomes pay and display parking places with shared residents’ parking scheme.
PROSPECT TERRACE — The existing free on street parking becomes pay and display parking places with shared residents’ parking scheme.
ROSE HILL- The existing free on street parking becomes pay and display parking places with shared residents’ parking scheme.
SION HILL – The existing free on street parking becomes pay and display parking places with shared residents’ parking scheme.
WELLINGTON CRESCENT- The existing free on street parking becomes pay and display parking places with shared residents’ parking scheme.
More information about the On Street Parking Consultation – Amendment No. 17 can be found here: https://www.thanet.gov.uk/info-pages/on-street-parking-consultation-amendment-no-17/
