Press Release
Published on 7 June 2021
Archived on 7 July 2021
On Monday 7 June, Stratford-on-Avon District Council's Cabinet agreed new car parking proposals for Stratford-upon-Avon.
In February, the District Council carried out two public consultation exercises - one for the concessionary permit holders only and one for the general public on the other proposed changes to the parking charges.
Based on the consultation results, the following will be introduced later this year (subject to a statutory six-week consultation period for the increased charges):
Cllr Ian Shenton, Climate Change Portfolio says: "This has been an extensive and comprehensive consultation process and has allowed residents and interested parties the chance to shape the final recommendations. The survey included a free text/comments box that allowed for any further thoughts and comments to be made which were then analysed with the survey into themes.
"It is clear that the final recommendations take account of the survey and the comments and whilst no survey is perfect, and the results and conclusions drawn will not please everyone, I am, nevertheless, content that the recommendations and the subsequent approval by the Cabinet is fair and equitable.
"In particular, the decision benefits the users of the leisure centres, whilst Motorhome visitors to Stratford generally agreed that a fair charge would be £10 for an overnight stay and I hope that we will continue to see more visitors. Being able to charge for using the Fisherman's car park is a consistent approach to parking is Stratford generally.
"The over 65 permits have been reducing in popularity over the last two years having fallen by approximately 40% and, based on the survey, would continue to fall if we increased the charge to a level that would have been consistent with the very few authorities that even offered such permit of this type.
"My view is that removing the permit, now, is the right course of action to take due to a number of factors, but principally because it is fairer and more equitable to approximately 99% of residents who either do not qualify for this permit or who have chosen not to buy it.
"As I said earlier, this decision will not please everyone and that is regrettable but we have to make decisions based on what is fair to the majority of residents and it is clear from social media and the survey itself that this is the right decision."
The online survey was open for completion from Monday 15 February to Friday 26 March 2021. The Council received 567 responses, of which 551 were completed online, 13 via paper copy and 3 via email.
A summary of the results is as follows:
Stratford-on-Avon District Council
Elizabeth House, Church Street,
Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire,
CV37 6HX
Tel: 01789 267575
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