P
Controversial plans to introduce
charges at a number of free carparks across the Havant
borough have been ditched after public opposition - as well
as plans to ditch the ability to pay by card.
Havant Borough Council’s cabinet is
set to meet on Wednesday (December 3) to consider a report
proposing a raft of changes across the borough following a
review into its original plans following much opposition.
Plans to introduce charging at the free carparks at
Langstone Bridge, Hayling Island; Gunsite, Hayling Island
and Ladybridge Car Park in Purbrook have been ditched, but
proposals are on the cards to introduce charges at Bridge
Road Car Park in Emsworth and St Mary’s Road car park
Hayling Island.
However, the council is looking at
issuing parking permits to nearby residents to allow them to
use these carparks as they are often displaced by shoppers
and commuters. The ability for them being used by parents to
‘park and stride’ during term time to take their children to
nearby schools is also proposed.
The council has also ditched plans
to force motorists to pay by RingGo or by cash and stopping
the ability to pay by card - with around a third of all
transitions being done in this way.
A report to the cabinet said: “In a
previous report this method of payment was recommended to be
removed from the parking meters to save a banking charge of
£50k. However, further research has shown that to remove the
option from the parking meters would have incurred a charge
of £28,500 and would have significantly reduced the options
to the customer to use a method of payment of their choice.
“In the UK over half of adults (57%
in late 2024) now regularly use mobile wallets like Apple
Pay or Google Pay for payments. In 2024/25 303,200
transactions at the meters were via chip & pin or wave & pay
– this equates to a third of all transactions. Therefore, it
is recommended that we retain the chip and pin and wave and
pay methods of payment.”
However, it is recommending going
ahead with plans to introduce Sunday and bank holiday
charges at all its paid-for carparks, where charges do not
current apply, which would raise an extra £100,000 for
council coffers. It is also proposing to raise
parking charges across the board as well by 8.88 per
cent.
Card machines will be scrapped from
carparks across the Havant borough with Sunday parking
charges also introduced
Fareham and Waterlooville MP Suella
Braverman has previously called it ‘a tax on worshippers’,
with those people attending Cowplain Church among those
adversely affected by the plans. Havant MP Alan Mak has also
dubbed the plans a ‘cash grab’ by the council and voiced his
opposition.
The report also proposes
introducing seasonal charges to Beachlands carparks on
Hayling Island which will mean that they will be free after
6pm between October 1 and March 31. Currently charges are in
place from 8am to 10pm Monday to Sunday all year round.
It said: “The current parking
charge regime around the borough has inconsistencies and
residents would benefit from a clearer, fairer parking
charges.
“The council needs to implement a
robust savings plan to address the budget deficit and
support delivery of statutory front-line services,
increasing the revenue from parking charges across the
borough will assist the council in meeting its financial
priorities.
“No proposals to increase parking
fees will ever be seen in a positive light. However, by
refining the review in light of feedback and discussed with
community representatives and councillors, it is hoped that
the outcome is more acceptable, whilst still delivering the
refresh of the charging regime needed.”
If the cabinet approves the
recommendations, then a 28-day formal statutory consultation
on the proposed changes will be held before any changes were
implemented.
The News 1st December
