Thanet council to discuss changes to isle parking charge proposals

Changes could be made to resident parking schemes and car parking charges that were initially proposed by Thanet council in April.

A three phase scheme to change free car parks and on-street parking areas to pay and display and introduce resident permits has been altered following public protest.

During consultation on the proposals between 5 May and 6 June 2017 the council received 290 submissions and an unverified change.org petition of 1,029 signatories in relation to the Minnis Bay proposal.

Areas of concern were:

  • Impact on businesses – 127 responses
  • General opposition to the schemes – 91 responses
  • Impact on residents – 60 responses
  • Increased charges – 49 responses
  • Impact on tourism – 7 responses

Areas that raised the most responses were

  • Minster/Monkton – 92 responses
  • Minnis Bay – 65 responses and e-petition comments
  • Westgate – 55 responses

Cabinet members are now due to discuss changes to the proposals which include 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.

A report to councillors says: “There are a number of on-street parking areas around the district that could benefit by having a resident’s parking scheme, pay and display or both. Some of these areas are currently time limited bays, which is not an effective system. Statutory consultation will take place before the introduction of any new on-street parking order.”

Thanet council says the revised scheme will bring in additional annual revenue of approximately £390k per year. The aim is to plug the gap left by cuts to council grants from central government.

The alterations are expected to get the green light at a meeting of Cabinet members on October 25.

The revised scheme

Phase 1

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

Phase 2

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

Phase 3

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

£1.50

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

Leopold Street multi-storey, Mill Lane multi-storey, Harold Road car park and Vere Road car park will remain free on Saturdays. The Mill Lane multi-storey car park in Margate has extended its opening hours to 11:30pm during the summer months (1st April to 31st September).

5 Comments

  1. How can they plug the gap in cuts by increasing parking charges as I am told that increased parking charges can only be used for car parks etc

  2. As Ann Smith says, revenue raised by car parks can only be used for car parking schemes and the like. It is NOT a means to raise general revenue. As I’ve said before – car parks are a self-financing monster. What is the purpose, other to annoy residents, disaude visitors, and affect the struggling local businesses. Are TDC acting illegally with this intention? Do away with bloody parking charges and let the area thrive!!

  3. The parking racketeering going on in Supermarket and other large commercial car parks needs to be outlawed. Notices placed where you don’t notice them, sudden changes in time limits and doing away with meters are all designed to catch you out and give reason to send a hefty fine through the post with your name and address given to these private companies courtesy of the DVLA.
    It is a scandal and I will no longer visit these shops who have given the running of their car parks over to these companies. They do not manage the car parks and keep them clean but just exist to send fines in the post and upset as many customers as possible. It’s a pity the Council has no control over them !

  4. I drove to Broadstairs intending to walk to one of the restaurants for a evening meal, parked in the car park at the bottom of Albion Street, It was empty, wonderful I thought until I realised why, I left Broadstairs a dined somewhere else. I will not be back for a while…..

  5. as a regular visitor to westgate on sea i am horrified to learn parking restrictions are planned for station road and other street. it is so easy to be able to pop into the local shops and purchase a wide variety of goods. to introduce parking charges will kill those businesses in station road and drive people to the giant supermarkets. you have something unique, why wreck this advantage for westgate shops and businesses? complete madness.

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