Archived press release

Date Published: 08/12/06

Shoppers and workers are set to benefit from new car parking charges in Aylesbury. At a meeting of AVDC’s cabinet this week, members approved a range of changes to parking charges in council-owned car parks. A new five-hour charge of &poun...

Shoppers and workers are set to benefit from new car parking charges in Aylesbury.

At a meeting of AVDC’s cabinet this week, members approved a range of changes to parking charges in council-owned car parks.

A new five-hour charge of £2.50 will be introduced at Exchange Street, Canalside (front and rear), Bearbrook and Whitehall Street to allow part-time workers to park at a reduced rate near to the town centre.

Costs for parking all day in these car parks will rise from £3 to £4. The aim of this increase is to encourage more people to park in the ‘outer’ car parks during the Waterside development, keeping more spaces available nearer to the town centre.

Outer car parks are defined as Friarscroft, Walton Street and Walton Green. The current £3 charge for parking all day in the outer car parks will remain unchanged.

Short-stay parking charges will also stay the same, with the addition of a new five-hour tariff at £5. Currently it costs £8 to park for more than four hours in the short-stay car parks. The new five-hour charge will help shoppers and visitors by providing them with a cheaper alternative.

In addition, Hale Street car park will be restricted to a one-hour stay only at a cost of 70p and six bays at the Civic Centre car park will be introduced for half-hour parking only at a cost of 40p.

The changes to parking charges in the town were recommended by the Aylesbury Car Park Tariff Review Group (ACPTRG), which is made up of representatives from AVDC, neighbouring parish councils and business interest groups. ACPTRG consulted more than 500 people, including permit holders, district and county councillors and Town Centre Partnership members before agreeing their final proposals.

The council’s Economy Scrutiny Committee backed the group’s recommendations at a meeting in August and suggested some additional proposals, which were also approved by the council’s cabinet. The council will now:
• Ensure signage at car parks and on the roadside is clear, specific and informative
• Produce an information leaflet which sets out the locations and restrictions of each car park
• Ensure the proposed six bays for half-hour usage at the Civic Centre car park are on the ground floor to provide quick and easy access

Councillor Val Baxter, Cabinet Member for Asset Management, said: “We are committed to providing safe and easily-accessible car parks for motorists who wish to visit the town. The proposed changes to our car parking facilities will help us to cope with the changing pattern of demand for parking within Aylesbury.”

She added: “The views of the community have been taken into account and the charges agreed are set at level which should not impact on local businesses. In fact the charges have been designed to make it easier for shoppers and to help local businesses.”

The new parking charges will be implemented in the new year. For more information call 01296 585381 or email parkingservices@aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk