The introduction of parking charges for on-street parking at The Parade in Minnis Bay has been branded as ‘council greed’ by angry residents.
The seasonal charges were first proposed by the council in April last year as part of a three phase scheme to change free car parks and on-street parking areas to pay and display and introduce resident permits.
During consultation on the proposals between 5 May and 6 June 2017 the council received 290 submissions and a petition of 1,029 signatories in relation to the Minnis Bay proposal.
Following the public outcry amendments were made to the scheme last October.
Amendments included removing Minster and Monkton car parks from the scheme and transferring them to the parish council and reducing the parking charge at Joss Bay and Minnis Bay from £2 per hour to £1.50 and the time the charge starts from 9am to 10am.
Thanet council said the revised 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 Parade at Minnis Bay was part of the final phase of the scheme.
A council notice was put on the road on Tuesday, the day after a storm devastated huts at the bay, to inform residents of the imminent order to introduce the seasonal charges changing free on-street parking spaces to pay and display.
The order can be seen at the Thanet Gateway offices in Margate, Pierremont Hall and isle libraries.
Birchington Parish Councillor Phil Fellows (pictured) has called the charges a “tax on beach walkers and users.”
He said: “This isn’t about the amount people have to pay but about the fact they have to pay at all. People will naturally try to find free parking and this will impact on the residents in the side roads.
“The Parade is not a busy thoroughfare, it’s a deadend road leading to an underused car park. There is never any parking shortage or traffic issues. This is totally unnecessary and a tax on beach walkers and users.”
Deterrent
A letter of objection from a Birchington businessman also slams the fees as a deterrent for low-income families to enjoy time at the beach.
He wrote: “Minnis Bay is a small area away from the hype of Margate or Ramsgate sea fronts. We do not have amusements here. It is a small beach area with a crabbing pool. There is the Minnis Bay restaurant, The Waves and Doogles beach cafe. TDC deciding to put a charge to park here really is not a great idea.
“Some single parents come to Minnis Bay to get away from the likes of the busier beach fronts. They bring along a bucket and spade, bat and ball maybe a crabbing line. A lot of them do not have the funds to do more than enjoy the beach here.
“Your proposal is going to scare these low income families away. If it doesn’t and they arrive here early enough and find the parking charges, then all you are doing is building up the street parking in the roads around the area as they will not always have the funds to pay to park up their car as well enjoy their day.”
Statutory consultation
A Thanet council spokesman said: “There are a number of on-street parking areas around the district where the council is proposing a resident parking scheme, pay and display or both. These charges were approved by Members at the end of last year and were the outcome of an extensive review of parking provision and demands across Thanet.
“The proposals are now out to statutory consultation until May 29 and all feedback will be considered.
“The charges were proposed to help on street spaces turn-over at an appropriate rate and include marking out bays in nuisance areas to help address the issues of inconsiderate parking for residents, improve pedestrian safety and encourage traffic flow.
“Funds raised will be used to help maintain our current parking stock and to fund improvements like the recently resurfaced Albion Road car park in Broadstairs. It will also mean we can explore future technological solutions like automated number plate registrations, solar power and smart parking to help improve car parking across the district.”
There continues to be free parking on Saturdays at car parks across Margate, Ramsgate, Broadstairs and Cliftonville – see our website for details.
Send in your views
Support or objections to the proposals can be sent to Uniformed Services Enforcement Manager, Council Offices, Cecil Street, Margate, CT9 1XZ before noon on May 29.
The revised scheme agreed in October
Barnes Car Park, Westbrook Car Park on seafront
Max day rate £1.50
Hours and charge per hour, 7am – 10pm 30p
Hartsdown Sports Centre Car Parks
Max day rate £3.20
Hours and hourly charge, 7am – 10pm 60p
Parking at the rear of the Winter Gardens
Max day rate £2.50
Hours and hourly charge, 7am – 10pm 50p
Joss Bay – Elmwood Avenue, Broadstairs.
Seasonal only charges. 10am – 6pm £1.50ph
Westbrook, Margate
Canterbury Road, Royal Crescent, Buenos Ayres, Station Road, Albert Road, Crescent Road, Garfield Road, Hatfeild Road, Seaview Terrace, Westbrook Road and Westbrook Cottages.
8am – 6pm
Residents Parking with some pay and display as per that years agreed fees and charges
Westgate Central, Westgate
St Mildreds Road, Station Road and Cuthbert Road, Westgate
8am – 6pm, maximum 2 hours
Residents Parking with some pay and display as per that years agreed fees and charges
Birchington East
Station Approach, Eastfield Road and Paddock Road
8am – 6pm, maximum 2 hours
Extension of the existing Residents Parking with some additional pay and display as per that years agreed fees and charges
Margate Old Town, Margate
The Parade, New Street, Fort Road, Broad Street, Lombard Street and New Cross Street, Margate
8am – 6pm, maximum 2 hours
Residents Parking with some pay and display as per that years agreed fees and charges
Broadstairs Victoria
Victoria Parade, Queens Gardens and West Cliff Avenue, Broadstairs
8am – 6pm, maximum 2 hours
Extension of the existing Residents Parking with some additional pay and display as per that years agreed fees and charges
Ramsgate Harbour, Ramsgate
Cliff Street, Rose Hill, Sion Hill, Prospect Terrace, Nelson Crescent and Paragon, Ramsgate
8am – 6pm, maximum 2 hours
Residents Parking with some pay and display as per that years agreed fees and charges
Ramsgate Eastcliff, Ramsgate
Wellington Crescent, Ramsgate
8am – 6pm, maximum 2 hours
Residents Parking with pay and display as per that years agreed fees and charges
Minnis Bay, Birchington
The Parade, Birchington. Seasonal only charges.
9am – 6pm, all day parking
£1.50ph
Botany Bay, Broadstairs
Possible extension and upgraded parking on Marine Drive. Seasonal only charges.
7am – 10pm, all day
On Street and Off Street pay and display as per that years agreed fees and charges
Mill Lane multi-storey, Harold Road car park and Vere Road car park will remain free on Saturdays.
