NEW PARKING FEES APPROVED

Proposals that aim to make parking charges fairer in the future and easier to understand have been approved by Thanet District Council.

Parking fees and charges have not changed since 2008. The new proposals will come into effect from Monday 4 June 2012. They will see residents and visitors to Thanet paying by the hour in car parks, with linear charges introduced to most on street parking across Thanet.

Under the new proposals, to help support Thanet’s town centres, free parking will be offered on Saturdays at four car parks, St. Peter’s Road in Broadstairs, Leopold Street in Ramsgate, Mill Lane in Margate and Harold Road in Cliftonville.

Birchington’s Albion Road will have half an hour’s free parking daily on a trial basis.

Under the new system, most parking bays along roads in Thanet will cost 20p for 10 minutes and £2.40 for two hours. The exceptions to this are Cecil Square and Albert Terrace in Margate, Harbour Parade in Ramsgate and Victoria Parade and Lawn Road in Broadstairs, which will have higher charges because of their locations. The aim is to stimulate turnover of parking spaces, giving people time to do their shopping, but stopping vehicles from blocking prime parking spots for too long.

Off street car parks will now fall into one of three categories from Monday 4 June:

1. Premium off street car parks in prime locations across the area, charging 80p per hour up to four hours. To park for between five and 15 hours will cost £4.

2.       Off street car parks, charging 50p per hour up to four hours. Parking for between five and 15 hours at these car parks will cost £2.50.

3. Off-street short stay car parks, where people can only park for a maximum of four hours, at a charge of 80p per hour.

In addition, five car parks, Albion Street, Chandos Square and Joss Bay in Broadstairs, Marina Esplanade in Ramsgate and St. Mildred’s Bay, will have higher summer charges from the beginning of April to the end of October.

Cabinet Member for Corporate and Regulatory Services, Cllr. Clive Hart, said: “The new scheme aims to be fairer and easier for everyone to understand. Parking is always a hugely controversial issue, but we felt we had to grasp the nettle on this one, as it’s been years since the fees were last looked at and we wanted to simplify them as much as possible and make them fairer. We were also keen to ensure that free parking was made available at car parks in each of our towns on Saturdays to encourage people to shop locally. That’s alongside the free half hour parking for Birchington that was recommended with cross party support at full council.”