titlepage/contents pg 1-16 - British Parking Association

Preparing a Parking Strategy 43associated demand for andsupply of parking is a major issueto be dealt with in the LocalDevelopment Framework. AParking Strategy, therefore, mustfollow from this and include themaximum levels of parking thathave been established and themechanisms that will be used tonegotiate levels of parkingprovision lower than the maxima.It will also need to show howparking policies and proposalsrelate to the accessibility of sitesidentified for development andthe promotion of Travel Plans.Applicants for new developmentwill need to refer to and beguided in the preparation of theirTransport Assessments. Forexample, where parking demandis likely to result in an increase inon-street parking, guidance willbe needed on the prospects orrequirements for introducing onstreetcontrols.The bottom-up approachconsists of identifying localconcerns, problems andopportunities. These can beidentified through a review of therelevant issues and the history ofpublic representations orcomplaints. Sources ofinformation include local electedMembers, local staff such ashighway superintendents,newspaper reports and previouscorrespondence. Consultationwith the police, public transportoperators, emergency services,taxi operators and freightdistribution operators will alsohelp to identify problem areasthat the parking strategy shouldaddress. This can provide avaluable starting point whensetting up a transport forum orworking group.Step 3: Establish workinggroups and forumThe production of a ParkingStrategy may be overseen by asteering group of electedMembers. This should beconstituted to include memberswith responsibility for land useplanning, transport planning andthe parking service.The technical work will need tobe undertaken by local authorityofficers (or their appointedconsultants), who may be fromdifferent departments, orsometimes from different localauthorities. An officer workinggroup will need to be establishedto coordinate this work, and toreport to the appropriate electedmembers.Guiding principles will need to beagreed between the membersand officers before any detailedtechnical work, such as parkingsurveys and scheme design, isundertaken.In deciding on the member andofficer working arrangements, itwill be necessary to considerhow stakeholders can beinvolved, and how the workingarrangements will tie in with theLocal Transport Plan andDevelopment Plan processes.It may be helpful to identify allrelevant issues in relation todifferent stakeholder groups, or“stakeholder mapping”. In orderto tackle this it may be helpful toestablish a “parking forum”, or aworking group within any localforums set up to consider widertransport issues.Step 4: Research and datagatheringThe process of preparing aParking Strategy will makedemands for up-to-dateinformation. The formulation ofpolicies to reconcile differentinterests and to balance demandwith supply will require data onthe capacity and use of parking.In many cases detailedinformation is not available, butthe Strategy provides both anopportunity and a requirement forthe establishment of a baseline.The research and informationgathering stage is necessary to:●●●Identify existing problemsand their causes;Assess the effect of potentialsolutions; andProvide a baseline againstwhich predictions andprogress towards objectives