Parking charges look likely for Clevedon seafront and Portishead Esplanade
PARKING charges look likely to be introduced along the seafront in Portishead and Clevedon.
Members of the North Somerset Council strategic planning and economic working party – set up to consider the introduction of parking charges across the north of the district – are due to meet this week to finalise their recommendations.
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Clevedon seafront, where parking charges look likely to be introduced
Although full details of the proposals have yet to be revealed, The Post can confirm that the working party is recommending parking charges are introduced along The Esplanade at Portishead and The Beach at Clevedon.
The charges however will not apply to people visiting Portishead Open Air Pool and a scheme is likely to be drawn up to ensure free parking remains for lido visitors.
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The working party is recommending introducing parking charges along Hill Road – one of Clevedon's most prestigious shopping areas.
It is understood that Nailsea's three main town centre car parks – which currently offer three hours of free parking – will escape the introduction of charges
The car parks – which are owned by North Somerset Council – are managed by Nailsea Town Council.
The town council has already asked the authority to issue it with a 25 year lease to enable it to take on full operation of the car parks.
The working party was also looking at introducing charges in other areas of the district, including on some town centre streets. Details on whether fees will be implemented in these areas have yet to be revealed.
The working party's recommendations will then go to the authority's strategic planning and economic development panel on April 9.
But a final decision on whether to implement parking charges lies with the executive.
Working party chairman Councillor Clive Webb said: "At the moment these are just recommendations which could be rejected or changed by the SPED panel and the executive.
"We are recommending charges are introduced along The Esplanade in Portishead with a caveat that the open air pool is protected.
"We are also recommending charges are introduced along The Beach at Clevedon.
"A lot of people using these parking spaces are tourists and we do not think they should get a free ride and they should pay to enjoy the coastline of North Somerset. A similar scheme is already running and works in Weston-super-Mare."
Moves to introduce parking charges in the north of the district have already met with strong opposition from residents and local businesses, many of which have launched petitions against the move.
They say introducing charging will just force people outside of the district to shop, damaging trade as well as forcing motorists onto residential streets to avoid having to pay.
10 Comments
by Blocked_WCs
Friday, March 15 2013, 2:38PM
“Just a second thought - wont the costs associated with collecting the charges simply outweigh the additional revenue?
Also, if we can't even park for free in our own local community, why are we paying our council tax??????
And finally - what impact would such a charge have on local businesses and jobs?????
The council would be totally nuts to pursue this plan. Oh dear, I think they might just do it!
BW”
by Blocked_WCs
Friday, March 15 2013, 2:06PM
“I think Brucie and Bay_Watch are correct - certain members of the community want to keep the lake grounds for themselves”
by Bay_Watch
Thursday, March 14 2013, 7:33PM
“Oh sorry - that would require a decent local MP, wouldn't it?”
by Bay_Watch
Thursday, March 14 2013, 7:32PM
“Dear Brucie
I think you have hit the nail on the head!
Are these changes designed to ensure that less people visit the lake grounds?
I think the time has come for the lake grounds issue to be escalated to Parliament!
BW”
by bruce07
Thursday, March 14 2013, 5:27PM
“I'm a Portishead resident and I fully support the Open-air pool. But why should it be given preferential treatment when not everyone wants to swim. What about the tennis club and the pitch and putt - don't they matter?”
by bruce07
Thursday, March 14 2013, 5:24PM
“No-one ever thought to ask the local residents what they want. Why do we suddenly need to charge for a public facility - is it to pay for the councillors' Christmas knees-up party?
So now they will be closing the Portishead lake-grounds toilets and then charging for the priviledge of not being able to relieve yourself. Since the cafe on the site doesn't offer a toilet - what logic says that anyone will visit the lake grounds?
Goodbye logic.”
by PortisheadAH1
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 10:35PM
“I wonder how the system will work that protects users of Portishead Open Air Pool? Will people have to purchase some type of permit when entering the pool? In which case they will have to walk back to where they parked their car, possibly with their young children in tow, in order to place the permit in their car. Or perhaps they may be able to get the permit first but on a busy day, they will find it difficult jumping the queue merely to park their car. Great news that the interests of the pool are being considered but cannot see an easy way of safeguarding pool users' interests nor how such a scheme will not be abused. Best just to not approve parking charges in the first place. What is the likelihood of that I wonder with our authority's six Executive Members?!”
by PortisheadAH1
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 10:35PM
“I wonder how the system will work that protects users of Portishead Open Air Pool? Will people have to purchase some type of permit when entering the pool? In which case they will have to walk back to where they parked their car, possibly with their young children in tow, in order to place the permit in their car. Or perhaps they may be able to get the permit first but on a busy day, they will find it difficult jumping the queue merely to park their car. Great news that the interests of the pool are being considered but cannot see an easy way of safeguarding pool users' interests nor how such a scheme will not be abused. Best just to not approve parking charges in the first place. What is the likelihood of that I wonder with our authority's six Executive Members?!”
by JamseTipper
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 4:11PM
“One more reason not to visit Clevedon or Portishead.
~”
by ManicPontiff
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 10:36AM
“Why on earth are the council still considering this idea when it is wanted by neither the residents who live on the roads in question or the businesses. Where will the residents be able to park when they cannot park in their own roads for more than three hours? All this will achieve will be to move the current problem to surrounding roads that are not in the scheme”