This report presents and responds to comments received to the advertised proposals to introduce parking charges and car parks controls at car parks adjacent to City Parks.

With the agreement of Councillor Cook, Councillors Alan Armitage, Jean Fooks and John Goddard made the following points:-

• There was local concern, especially from users of Cutteslowe Park, that  the proposals would go ahead regardless;
• People appreciated that there were proposals to provide season tickets, but there was still concern that car parking would be displaced into the surrounding streets. It was important to monitor this;
• The proposal seemed disruptive for a small financial return;
• Godstow Road car park was on common land and therefore charges could not be made;
• There were concerns that people parking at Walton Well Road car park would be forbidden from returning within 24 hours. This should be reduced or even abandoned altogether;
• People using Cripley Meadow allotments need good access that was wide enough for cars and other vehicles – could a discussion take place with the allotment holders on this?
• Councillor John Goddard added that the Secretary of State had the power to decide what might happen around Port Meadow.

Councillor Cook responded as follows:-

·        There would be monitoring of any displacement around Godstow Road;

·        The proposed scheme was necessary because of the Council’s budget constraints;

·        There was no change of use at Godstow Road car park. It was staying as a car park. The only alteration was in charging to park there;

·        The comments about the 24 hour “no return” for the Walton Well road Car Park and about Port Meadow were noted;

·        Councillor Cook had been in prolonged contact with allotment holders and hoped to address concerns about car parking.

Resolved:-

(1)       As far as the proposal to introduce charges at the Godstow Road car park were concerned:

(a)       To ask officers to check and confirm that there was no legal impediment to charging for parking in areas adjacent common land;

(b)              Assuming that there was no legal impediment, officers were asked to progress with consultation concerning charging for parking on the Godstow Road site;

(c)       Officers were asked to gather further evidence of the usage of the Godstow Road site and that when carrying out consultation, officers were asked to consult widely with the wider community, including Ward Members, the Wolvercote Commoners, Freemen and any amenity societies associated with Port Meadow;

(2)       As far as the proposal to introduce charges at the Marsh Road car park was concerned that this not be proceeded with because the Board Member did not consider that the finances for this proposal were clear; It was not known what the level of City Council usage would be; a proper travel plan for City Council staff travelling to the site should first be produced, and a consultation concerning the number of permits required for this site, and the price of these permits for City Council staff, be carried out, and that this should be reported back by means of a future report for consideration by the Board Member;

(3)       As far as all of the other car parks adjacent to City Parks were concerned:

(a)               That the proposed charges be introduced as advertised with an initial implementation date of 1^st September (although it was acknowledged that this may be pushed backwards);

(b)               Delegate to officers in consultation with the Board Member the authority to determine an appropriate protocol for the issuing of permits and that amenity groups should be informed of the method of application for parking permits and this information should be displayed on notices within the car parks as well.

(c)        That the proposals should be amended to forbid return within 3 hours as opposed to the suggested 24 hours.