THE issue of parking in Chester is due to be considered by Town Hall chiefs on Thursday.
The Tory administration’s Executive is to have a report from Cllr Stephen Mosley and Cllr Mike Jones on a new five year plan being drawn up by the City and County councils.
It will hear a review is looking at council owned car parks in the city centre, on street parking, park and ride and private parking.
Improvements are being sought including those which will bring “immediate benefits.”
The aims include increasing the number of visitors to Chester, how long they stay and what they spend, sustaining income and minimising costs to car park users and to council tax payers.
The report says there should be the right number of car parks in the right locations to attract more people to the city centre.
Routes to and from the car parks to the shops should be “safe, attractive, convenient and accessible.”
The intention is to complete the development of the new Delamere Street car park, work to provide new car parking at the railway station by the end of next year (2009), provide a 5th park and ride by 2010/11 and review the viability of an extension to the Upton park and ride.
A study is proposed into a possible park and ride for the Countess of Chester, Chester University and West Cheshire College but the report also suggests opportunities will be explored to “rationalise” park and ride routes in the context of wider bus services.
The possibility of expanding city centre parking will also be looked at.
Other moves include payment of parking charges by mobile phone, pay on foot, upgrading change machines to take £20 notes, upgrading ticket machines to take credit cards and a pay per car trial for park and ride.
Car park charges should be “flexible and competitive” says the report.
The Executive will hear a number of steps have already been taken to offer incentives to residents and visitors.
It is being asked to agree that Cllr Mosley should arrange for improvements to the Princess Street car park which could become pay on foot with an uplift to its appearance, security and branding, including a change of name.
