Eastbourne parking review - Consultation results - East Sussex ...
Eastbourne parking review - Consultation results - East Sussex ...
Eastbourne parking review - Consultation results - East Sussex ...
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<strong><strong>East</strong>bourne</strong> Parking Review<br />
<strong>Consultation</strong> <strong>results</strong><br />
Winter 2010
Table of contents<br />
Introduction............................................................................................................... 2<br />
Map of <strong>review</strong> areas................................................................................................ 3<br />
Table 1 - response rates for 2010 and 2006 surveys.............................................. 5<br />
Table 2 - 2010 residents response rates for each <strong>review</strong> area ............................... 5<br />
Table 3 - 2010 business response rates for the main <strong>review</strong> areas ........................ 6<br />
Findings..................................................................................................................... 7<br />
Stage 1 - How well does the current scheme meet the key objectives set out in the<br />
<strong><strong>East</strong>bourne</strong> Urban Area Local Transport Plan (EUALTP) ....................................... 7<br />
Stage 2 – Review of existing <strong>parking</strong> controls in the town centre area ................... 7<br />
Summary of findings for Stage 1 & 2 Existing Town Centre Controlled Scheme .... 8<br />
Stage 3 – Review of <strong>parking</strong> in the area surrounding the town centre controlled<br />
area......................................................................................................................... 9<br />
Table 4 Support for principle of introducing controls ............................................... 9<br />
Summary of findings for Stage 3 Area Surrounding Town Centre ........................ 10<br />
Stage 4 – Review of <strong>parking</strong> in Meads, Rodmill and Hampden Park areas .......... 10<br />
Summary of findings for Stage 4 areas................................................................. 11<br />
Options.................................................................................................................... 11<br />
Stage 1 and 2 town centre area - options for further consideration:...................... 11<br />
Stage 3 areas surrounding the town centre - options for further consideration..... 12<br />
Stage 4 areas – options for further consideration ................................................. 12<br />
What happens next .............................................................................................. 13<br />
Contact us............................................................................................................... 13
Introduction<br />
This document contains a summary of the <strong>results</strong> of the <strong><strong>East</strong>bourne</strong> Parking<br />
Review, carried out in summer 2010 by our independent <strong>review</strong>ers, WSP Parsons<br />
Brinkerhoff. The <strong>results</strong> were presented to members of the county and borough<br />
councils, local businesses and residents’ forums.<br />
The information includes a summary of the key findings and options for the<br />
issues identified for each stage:<br />
Stage 1 – looked at how well the current town centre scheme is meeting the<br />
original objectives set out in the Local Transport Plan<br />
Stage 2 – looked for comments on the current town centre scheme and any<br />
adjustments that might be required<br />
Stage 3 – looked for information on any <strong>parking</strong> issues experienced in the area<br />
surrounding the current town centre scheme and the level of support for the<br />
principle of introducing <strong>parking</strong> controls<br />
Stage 4 – looked for information on any <strong>parking</strong> issues experienced in the Meads,<br />
Rodmill and Hampden Park areas and the level of support for principle of<br />
introducing <strong>parking</strong> controls<br />
A map of the <strong>review</strong> areas is shown below.
Map of <strong>review</strong> areas<br />
Stage 4<br />
Hampden Park<br />
Area<br />
Stage 4<br />
Rodmill Area<br />
Stage 3<br />
North Area<br />
Stage 3<br />
<strong>East</strong> Area<br />
Stage 4<br />
Meads Area<br />
Stage 1 & 2<br />
Town Centre Area<br />
Stage 3<br />
South Area<br />
Note: postal drop area households received a letter notifying them that the consultation was taking<br />
place in roads close to where they live
This was an extensive consultation with leaflets and questionnaires distributed to<br />
around 14,000 households & 2000 businesses and which received over 3000<br />
responses. People also had the opportunity to attend anyone of eight ‘drop-in’<br />
sessions, write, phone or e-mail their views or complete an online questionnaire.<br />
In addition, over 700 on-street interviews were randomly conducted in the town<br />
centre with members of the public to capture shopper, visitor and tourist views<br />
about <strong>parking</strong>.<br />
Figure 1 - Distribution of responses for the 2010 survey.
Table 1 - response rates for 2010 and 2006 surveys.<br />
2010<br />
Total responses<br />
2006<br />
Total responses<br />
Residents’<br />
survey<br />
2926 (18%) 3422 (28%)<br />
Business<br />
survey<br />
297 (14%) 419 (29%)<br />
Commuter<br />
survey<br />
66<br />
Visitor survey 40<br />
On-street<br />
survey<br />
739<br />
Stakeholder<br />
63 (25%)<br />
3 (10%)<br />
survey<br />
Total 4071 3904<br />
Table 2 - 2010 residents response rates for each <strong>review</strong> area<br />
Residents No. returns Representation<br />
Stage 1/2 344 12%<br />
Stage 3 <strong>East</strong> 295 13%<br />
Stage 3 North 453 20%<br />
Stage 3 South 234 15%<br />
Stage 4 Hampden Park 106 17%<br />
Stage 4 Rodmill 294 28%<br />
Stage 4 Meads 702 22%<br />
Generic 498 -<br />
Total 2926
Table 3 - 2010 business response rates for the main <strong>review</strong> areas<br />
Businesses No. returns Representation<br />
Stage 1/2 135 14%<br />
Stage 3 104 13%<br />
Stage 4 37 23%<br />
Generic 21 -<br />
Total 297
Findings<br />
Stage 1 - How well does the current scheme meet the key objectives set out in<br />
the <strong><strong>East</strong>bourne</strong> Urban Area Local Transport Plan (EUALTP)<br />
This part of the consultation looked at how well the current scheme meets the<br />
objectives set out in the <strong><strong>East</strong>bourne</strong> Urban Area Local Transport Plan. This includes<br />
residents being able to park near their homes and reducing illegal and inconsiderate<br />
<strong>parking</strong> in the town centre. It also considered other readily available data, such as<br />
traffic and congestion levels, to assess how successful the scheme has been.,.<br />
The <strong>results</strong> suggest that the current scheme is broadly meeting the key objectives:<br />
Many residents finding it easier to park on the street near their home.<br />
There is a significant perception that illegal and inconsiderate <strong>parking</strong> has<br />
reduced.<br />
There is general satisfaction with the level of charges for permits (however,<br />
many residents also believe that pay and display charges are too high).<br />
Shoppers and visitors continue to travel to <strong><strong>East</strong>bourne</strong> by car.<br />
There is also good evidence of evidence of modal shift towards more walking<br />
and bus use (increase in bus use is also supported by the Stagecoach’s own<br />
figures).<br />
Bus users believe that bus punctuality has improved.<br />
Traffic monitoring shows that peak time traffic levels have reduced in line with<br />
other coastal towns since the controls were introduced.<br />
However, views and perceptions among the business community respondents were<br />
generally less supportive. 60% of businesses that responded believe it is now more<br />
difficult for both employees and customers to park near their premises (compared<br />
with 23% of residents). Overall the business community respondents were generally<br />
less positive about the scheme.<br />
Stage 2 – Review of existing <strong>parking</strong> controls in the town centre area<br />
This stage looked at the current town centre <strong>parking</strong> controls and asked respondents<br />
for comments and suggestions about:<br />
• the days and hours of control<br />
• the length of permitted stay<br />
• seafront pay and display charges<br />
• possible changes to the layout and types of controls in their area.<br />
Hours of control<br />
The findings show that there are mixed views on the current days and hours of<br />
control:<br />
• More residents but fewer businesses are in favour of the current hours of<br />
control (8:00am to 6:00pm).
• Fewer residents but more businesses would prefer the controls to start or<br />
finish at different times.<br />
• Some respondents would like the controls to start or finish earlier and some<br />
would like the controls to start or finish later.<br />
Days of control<br />
A majority of residents and an even larger number of business respondents are<br />
satisfied with the current days of operation (Monday to Saturday) but a significant<br />
number of residents would like controls to operate on a Sunday. These were<br />
generally from streets closest to the town centre main shopping areas.<br />
Maximum length of stay<br />
• Many residents but a smaller percentage of businesses, think that the<br />
maximum stay of 2 hours in some areas is about right.<br />
• A significant number of residents (40%) and an even greater percentage of<br />
businesses (60%) believe that 2 hours maximum stay is too short.<br />
However, evidence from pay and display ticket sales data suggests that 60% of sales<br />
are for one hour or less and even in areas where 4 hour <strong>parking</strong> is permitted<br />
(excluding the seafront) only 13% of ticket sales are for more than 2 hours.<br />
Relaxing seafront controls<br />
There was an overwhelming majority from both the business and resident<br />
respondents, 77% and 74% respectively, in favour of making seafront <strong>parking</strong><br />
controls either cheaper or free in the winter. 58% think they should be free.<br />
Changes to layout<br />
Both residents and businesses requested additional <strong>parking</strong> provision. This included<br />
residents bays, shared permit bays, loading bays (residents wanted less, businesses<br />
wanted more), coach bays, disabled bays, pay and display bays and more time<br />
limited free <strong>parking</strong> outside shops from businesses.<br />
In addition there were requests for changes to the layout of existing <strong>parking</strong> bays and<br />
yellow line markings. This included removing double yellow lines and loading<br />
restrictions (kerb ‘blips’) and allowing short term <strong>parking</strong> outside shops (single yellow<br />
lines or time limited <strong>parking</strong>).<br />
Summary of findings for Stage 1 & 2 Existing Town Centre Controlled Scheme<br />
Significant demand for relaxation of seafront controls in winter.<br />
Demand for increasing the maximum length of stay to 4 hour <strong>parking</strong> in some<br />
areas...<br />
Requests for changes to days and hours of control.<br />
Requests for additional residents’ bays, loading bays, shared used bays and<br />
time limited bays.<br />
Requests for changes to road markings and layout of bays.
Stage 3 – Review of <strong>parking</strong> in the area surrounding the town centre controlled<br />
area<br />
This stage looked at <strong>parking</strong> problems in the area surrounding the town centre<br />
<strong>parking</strong> scheme with the <strong>results</strong> being summarised as:<br />
• the area to the east of the town centre<br />
• the area to the north of the town centre<br />
• the area to the south of the town centre<br />
(please see map)<br />
The consultation asked people if they had <strong>parking</strong> difficulties at various times and<br />
days of the week and what they believed might be causing the <strong>parking</strong> problems. It<br />
also asked if they supported the principle of introducing <strong>parking</strong> controls to help<br />
reduce any problems identified.<br />
Parking difficulties<br />
The majority of the respondents indicated that they experienced <strong>parking</strong> difficulties at<br />
some time with:<br />
• 74% of residents in <strong>East</strong> area experiencing difficulties<br />
• 58% of residents in North area experiencing difficulties<br />
• 68% of residents in South area experiencing difficulties<br />
The majority of the responses also suggested that these were caused by employee<br />
or commuter <strong>parking</strong>, visitors or shoppers and insufficient space for all of the<br />
resident’s cars.<br />
Support for <strong>parking</strong> controls<br />
However, when asked about whether they support the principle of introducing <strong>parking</strong><br />
controls in their street there was no overwhelming majority in any of the areas shown<br />
in Table 4 .<br />
Table 4 Support for principle of introducing controls<br />
Stage 3 In favour of controls Not in favour of controls<br />
Area Residents Businesses Residents Businesses<br />
<strong>East</strong> 45% 40% 42% 57%<br />
North 50% 21% 40% 76%<br />
South 54% 37% 37% 58%<br />
[The sample size of business responses was relatively small compared with the<br />
number of questionnaires sent to businesses].<br />
However, the <strong>results</strong> suggest that a significant number of people do experience<br />
<strong>parking</strong> difficulties and support the principle of introducing controls and where this is<br />
the case the greatest level of interest is for permit holder only <strong>parking</strong>.
Summary of findings for Stage 3 Area Surrounding Town Centre<br />
There are definite <strong>parking</strong> issues in these areas but there is not sufficient<br />
support for an area-wide extension of the town centre <strong>parking</strong> scheme.<br />
Problems are concentrated in streets closest to the town centre and existing<br />
controlled area.<br />
Residents’ access to off-street <strong>parking</strong> is limited, particularly in the eastern<br />
area.<br />
Problems are predominantly weekday, 8am to 6pm.<br />
Views on the need for <strong>parking</strong> controls are mixed, though demand is lower in<br />
the eastern area where residents are most likely to suffer from <strong>parking</strong><br />
problems.<br />
Stage 4 – Review of <strong>parking</strong> in Meads, Rodmill and Hampden Park areas<br />
This stage looked at <strong>parking</strong> problems in three areas not related to the town centre<br />
<strong>parking</strong> scheme associated with the Brighton University sites in Meads, the District<br />
General Hospital and Downs College in Rodmill and the train station at Hampden<br />
Park.<br />
Residents and businesses were asked if they experienced <strong>parking</strong> difficulties at<br />
various times and days of the week and what they believed might be causing the<br />
<strong>parking</strong> problems. It also asked if they supported the principle of introducing <strong>parking</strong><br />
controls to help reduce any problems identified.<br />
Parking difficulties<br />
Meads - 36% of respondents indicated experiencing <strong>parking</strong> difficulties at some time<br />
with particular problems in:<br />
• Meads Street where residents have conflict with 2 hour <strong>parking</strong> limit for<br />
local shops<br />
• Streets surrounding University & the schools<br />
• Streets close to seafront including South Cliff Avenue & Bolsover Road<br />
(east)<br />
• Streets in the north including Granville Road, Grassington Road,<br />
Blackwater Road and Carlisle Road<br />
Rodmill - 41% of respondents indicated experiencing <strong>parking</strong> difficulties at some<br />
time with particular problems in Rangemoor Drive, Framfield Way, Burton Road and<br />
Westfield Road.<br />
However, many properties in both these areas have off-street <strong>parking</strong> and many of<br />
the problems are associated with access to driveways and vehicles <strong>parking</strong> opposite<br />
or too close. There were also a large number of comments about inconsiderate<br />
<strong>parking</strong> on junctions and bends.
Hampden Park - 43% of respondents indicated experiencing <strong>parking</strong> difficulties at<br />
some time but it was a relatively small sample size with no particular streets<br />
indicating a significant problem.<br />
Support for <strong>parking</strong> controls<br />
When asked about whether they support the principle of introducing <strong>parking</strong> controls<br />
in their street there was no overwhelming majority in any of the areas with:<br />
• Meads - 37% of residents (and 2 businesses) were in favour of controls<br />
and 52% of residents (and 19 businesses) were not in favour<br />
• Rodmill – 52% of residents (and 2 businesses) were in favour of controls<br />
and 37% of residents (and 0 businesses) were not in favour<br />
• Hampden Park – 32% of residents (and 4 businesses) were in favour of<br />
controls and 54% of residents (and 5 businesses) were not in favour<br />
Summary of findings for Stage 4 areas<br />
Parking issues do not affect as high a proportion of residents in these areas as in<br />
Stage 3<br />
These are localised <strong>parking</strong> issues, eg near University, schools, hospital, shops<br />
and rail station<br />
Around a third of respondents in The Meads and Hampden Park support the<br />
principle of introducing controls but majority do not support controls<br />
Greatest interest in controls was in the Rodmill area but this area does not<br />
necessarily have area-wide <strong>parking</strong> difficulties<br />
Options<br />
As part of the analysis of the consultation findings, WSP PB also presented options<br />
for further consideration to help address the issues identified for each stage.<br />
Stage 1 and 2 town centre area - options for further consideration:<br />
• Review specific requests for changes on a street by street basis<br />
• Examine where amendments are appropriate<br />
• Undertake further consultation on the amendments<br />
• Review yellow line markings within the town centre area on streets where<br />
issues have been identified during the consultation<br />
• Review the loading bay policy and consider time of operation<br />
• Allow 4 hour on-street paid for <strong>parking</strong> with appropriate pricing (to deter shift<br />
from off-street car parks)
• Review off-season seafront controls and tariffs<br />
• ESCC & EBC to develop a comprehensive <strong>parking</strong> and pricing strategy for<br />
<strong><strong>East</strong>bourne</strong> to ensure a co-ordinated approach towards the management and<br />
pricing of the town’s on-street and off-street <strong>parking</strong> stocks<br />
Stage 3 areas surrounding the town centre - options for further consideration<br />
• No area-wide extension of town centre <strong>parking</strong> scheme<br />
• There are particular <strong>parking</strong> difficulties around the edge of the town centre<br />
which need to be addressed by localised measures including:<br />
• Permit only and shared use bays<br />
• Time limited <strong>parking</strong> bays outside shops<br />
• Loading bays and disabled bays<br />
• Review of yellow lines and bar markings<br />
• Where problems have been identified on streets further away from the town<br />
centre scheme these should be examined on street by street basis and<br />
appropriate localised measures considered including shared permit and time<br />
limited <strong>parking</strong> bays<br />
• ESCC and EBC to consider complementary measures for commuters for<br />
inclusion in the local transport plan including Park and Ride, a Quality Bus<br />
Partnership, partnership agreements with rail operators and private car parks<br />
Stage 4 areas – options for further consideration<br />
• No area wide need for paid-for <strong>parking</strong> controls<br />
• Localised <strong>parking</strong> difficulties can be addressed by measures including:<br />
• Residents’ only permit scheme or short term <strong>parking</strong> restrictions for nonresidents<br />
in those streets with particular difficulties and very limited offstreet<br />
<strong>parking</strong><br />
• Time limited <strong>parking</strong> and enforced free <strong>parking</strong> to serve local shopping<br />
precincts<br />
• Relaxation of seafront <strong>parking</strong> controls in the Meads area to relieve<br />
pressure on adjoining residential streets<br />
• Review <strong>parking</strong> restrictions on Brassey Avenue to examine the viability<br />
of reducing the length of the double yellow lines to create more short<br />
stay <strong>parking</strong><br />
• Review yellow lines, <strong>parking</strong> restrictions and bar markings to ensure that<br />
accesses are preserved and visibility at junctions is maintained<br />
• Loading bays and disabled bays where required<br />
• The need for controls and appropriate type of controls should be examined on<br />
street by street basis<br />
• ESCC and EBC to work with the District General Hospital, Brighton University<br />
and <strong>Sussex</strong> Downs College and other employers in <strong><strong>East</strong>bourne</strong> to implement<br />
travel plan measures and explore how the impact of <strong>parking</strong> associated with<br />
these land uses could be reduced on surrounding streets<br />
Following presentation to ESCC and EBC members and the local business forum a<br />
number of other options were requested to be considered:
Seafront pay and display charges should be reduced or be free during this<br />
winter to support local trade particularly leading up to Christmas. [A<br />
recent Lead Member report approved the reduction of seafront charges<br />
from 1 December 2010 to 31 March 2011].<br />
The <strong><strong>East</strong>bourne</strong> Hospitality Association requested that all coach bays<br />
associated with hotels and guest houses in <strong><strong>East</strong>bourne</strong> are converted to<br />
loading bays.<br />
Closer working with the <strong><strong>East</strong>bourne</strong> Chamber of Commerce to understand<br />
their issues with the current scheme to help develop proposals to improve<br />
the effectiveness of the scheme for their members.<br />
ESCC officers to continue to work with <strong><strong>East</strong>bourne</strong> Hospitality Association<br />
to consider improvements to the hotel guest permit scheme.<br />
What happens next<br />
WSP PB will carry out detailed analysis of the <strong>results</strong> on a street by street and area<br />
by area basis. Local measures and changes will be developed and will be subject to<br />
further member and public consultation.<br />
There is a lot of detailed information to be considered and it will take time to work<br />
through all the options presented for each of the areas. The consultants will work<br />
with local members, business and resident groups to explore and develop<br />
appropriate measures before detailed proposals are presented for further public<br />
consultation later in spring 2011.<br />
Contact us<br />
For more information about this <strong>review</strong>, contact the Project Manager, Dale Poore.<br />
Phone: 01273 481916<br />
Email: dale.poore@eastsussex.gov.uk