Council leader wades into parking row to defend high street charges

THE leader of Hampshire County Council has intervened in the growing row over plans to bring in parking charges to Lymington High Street.

Cllr Keith Mans defended the controversial scheme, due to be implemented in April next year, saying it would deliver “significant improvements” such as faster turnover in spaces and less pollution.

As revealed in the A&T last week, traders hit out at the idea saying extra costs would deter shoppers and longer stays would actually hinder the availability of parking. They also resented being the only town in the New Forest facing the prospect of fresh charges.

Under the proposals, the current one hour’s free parking would be replaced with 30 minutes free followed by up to two hours payable.

Cllr Mans, who represents nearby Brockenhurst, said it was part of an “ambitious” programme to modernise on-street parking across Hampshire.

He said: “All high streets are changing, and we must adapt to these changes. Maximising the turnover of limited spaces by introducing a better managed parking system coupled with more effective enforcement will benefit all those visiting Lymington.

“The proposals include an initial free period of parking so shoppers wanting to make short stops can continue to do so at no additional cost.”

He added: “The changes aim to increase the likelihood of people being able to find a convenient place to park on the High Street, improving air quality by reducing cars driving around looking for spaces, and boosting the turnover of potential customers coming and going during the day.”

He pointed to surveys showing High Street’s current one-hour free parking was breached by 150 vehicles a day, which he blamed on the difficulty of enforcing the regulations.

“By managing on-street parking more effectively, we will enable increased turnover of space availability, and help ensure Lymington continues to thrive as a vibrant and distinctive shopping area,” he said.

As reported in the A&T, New Forest District Council is currently in charge of on-street parking under a roads agreement with HCC, the highways authority.

But in 2018 NFDC refused the offer of new terms which would have required it to ensure full costs were met from April 2020, such as enforcement officers and administration. It said it could not be certain how much it would end up paying out.

As a result, next year control will go back to HCC whose roads budget is being squeezed by a number of major projects. It is also aiming to cut £80m of spending overall by 2021, due to reductions in government funding.

Cllr Mans, a Conservative, said high streets across the county would benefit from what he hailed as a “consistent and equitable operation to protect highways maintenance budgets for essential repairs”.

He went on: “This will ensure the costs associated with on-street parking are covered, so as not to draw resources away from highways priorities which are to maintain a safe network and to reduce the numbers of people killed or seriously injured on our roads.”

Objectors have told the A&T there are plans for a petition to show the scale of opposition, which includes Lymington’s Tory county councillor Michael White, who said he feared “for the future of the street”.

Liberal Democrat district councillor Jack Davies, who represents Pennington, described the plans a “ludicrous” and said: “Local people won’t take this lying down.”