Your city, your say

Feb 22 2008 by Barry Ellams, Chester Chronicle

More than 118 respondents took part in an online Chronicle survey on Parking and Life in Chester. The results make interesting reading. BARRY ELLAMS reports

An online Chronicle questionnaire has unanimously called for improvements to Chester’s car parks, shops, culture and heritage.

The survey revealed a great deal of pride among people living in Chester but pointed out areas that need to be addressed if Chester is to progress.

When asked if Chester is anti car? 70.7% responded ‘Yes’ and 29.3% ‘No’. According to the survey 85% of respondents are not happy with Chester’s car parks. 15% said they were satisfied. 66.7% thought Chester City Centre was difficult to get to during the day but the statistic was reversed during the night with 67.7% saying Chester was easier to access.

85.3% of our online respondents said the car parks were overpriced. 29.4% said they were not good quality.

A figure of 15.6% said parking fines were unfair and 46.8% said they were not value for money.

The new Conservative adminstration has pledged to make parking a big priority this year. A Transport Review is taking place into many of the issues raised in the survey.

Parking has been purposefully moved under the Customer Services Portfolio. A new pay on foot scheme is to be piloted in 2008 which will cut out parking fines. Car park fees have also been frozen and during the three-month closure of Hoole Bridge car parking has been made free after 5pm. Park and Ride is set to be overhauled. The council is looking at a seamless transport network of buses loosely based on the London Underground system in a bid to increase visitor numbers.

Mike Jones, Lead Councillor for Regeneration, wants to remove the “inflexibility” from Park and Ride and forge new bus links between Chester attractions like Chester Zoo and the City Centre.

Cllr Jones said: “It is an interesting challenge. We have lots of ideas to use Park and Ride and move people in, around and out of Chester in a more efficient way.”

The second part of the survey focuses on Life in Chester. 84.1% believe heritage and history is Chester’s biggest attraction. In second place is shopping at 39.3%. In third is restaurants and dining at 24.3% fourth is activities with 15% believing there is a lot to do and last is that Chester is a Friendly City at 9.3%.

When asked “What is your biggest criticism of Chester” respondents voted transport as the biggest problem at 59.6%. More than 35% criticised Chester for not being open late at night. 22.1% believe Chester is not a city for families. 19.1% believe Chester is not a welcoming city and 14.9% say there is nothing to do.

Question seven, which asked ‘What do you think Chester needs the most for a successful future?’ elicited 71 written responses.

One of the first respondents calls for “Cheaper parking, family restaurants, more taxi ranks, more visible policing in the evening.”

One respondent simply points out: “It is too expensive to park in the city.”

Another correspondent gives a more detailed response, saying: “I am definitely not alone in feeling that the Chester City car parks are too greedy, and are causing relocation of shops and loss of locals such as myself. I go to Chester six times a year only. Liverpool and Manchester are less greedy and I go there as I live in Frodsham.”

Commenting on Park and Ride one respondent comments: “We have a relatively good Park and Ride service, but it is not a patch on other cities such as York and Norwich – both coincedentally operated by First Group plc on a user friendly basis with decent buses.

“I gather tenders for the P&R routes are being finalised – and these might include charging per car rather than per passsenger. This would be a retrograde step and has been abandoned in almost every other city in the UK.

“The cost of parking in Gorse Stacks is extortionate and dearer than in Edinburgh.”

The decline of culture in Chester is a matter of concern for many. One respondent writes: “Lack of local performing arts space and lack of local cinema facilities. Theatre, cinema, music venue art gallery other cultural events and locations.”

A respondent wrote: “I like the idea of Chester being pedestrian-friendly and that public transport is of a good standard but we need more parking to attract visitors to the city.

“Not enough disabled parking” was one remark.

A couple of references were made calling for later buses connecting Chester and its rural districts.

There were a number of references to an evening economy with family activities after 5pm. “Improved leisure facilities, particularly in the evening,” was one observation whilst one respondent called for: “Shops to stay open later and coffee houses something other than pubs to stay open for.”

Another added: “Shops open later to bridge the gap between the two personalities of Chester - friendly, bustling shopping centre by day but intimidating at night. Turn the amphitheatre into a Jorvik Centre type attraction- fast.”

One of the survey participants demanded “No more apartments,” adding “Who is going to live in them? No trendy glass, steel, shiny buildings just blend in with our heritage.”

One correspondent called for cheaper rents for smaller independent traders, saying: “Stop overpricing the business leases forcing some of the unique smaller shops on the rows out of business. They are what make Chester special.”

One contributor urges Chester to “Trade on the history – it was the site of the most important Roman fortress in this country and its got the largest amphitheatre.”

One respondent called for “Some modern culture,” adding “All the modern buildings are fantastic, and how the city makes a big thing of being a Roman walled city both are great for tourism and are interesting but how about something that is exciting and diverse? Something that would appeal to all ages?”

Another added: “You need to get the locals more involved in what’s going on and start making them welcome in their own city.”

A significant number of responses raised concerns at the level of policing in Chester in the evening. There is a perception that Chester (however unfounded it may be) that Chester is not safe at night.

One participant calls for “More community police officers.” Another demands “More police presence during the evening to make the city streets feel friendly. Liverpool got it right – they had mounted police and street police who have a good interaction with people.”

Finally another contributor had: “No real criticisms, we find it a pleasant city, though a bit noisy at night.”