Downham: Is this the end of free parking?
IS THIS the end of free parking in Downham?
That's the 'hot potato' question up for discussion at tonight's (Tuesday's) Downham Town Council meeting.
It follows last week's extraordinary meeting of the car parks and highways committee which started with news of the resignation of
chairman, Stephen Blyth, and concluded with a recommendation for the introduction of charges for car parking.
The press and public were excluded from discussion of proposals to introduce car park charging because of confidential financial information, but at the end of these deliberations, councillors decided to make the following recommendations to the Full Council:
All disabled parking bays remain free of charge to cars displaying a valid blue badge.
The Town Hall car park remain free with a parking limit of 30 minutes.
The Hollies and upper Paradise Road car parks be retained for short-term use with a maximum of three hours to be charged at 20p per hour.
The Fire Station and lower Paradise Road car parks to have all-day parking with a charge of 2.
The public are welcome to attend and will be given an opportunity to speak at the beginning of the meeting but cannot take part in the
debate.
The committee also considered proposals for a new entrance garden at the Bridge Street end of The Hollies Car Park. The area has been badly
affected by the root systems of existing trees which have damaged the sewer and broken up the pavement.
Councillor Charlie Pyatt had sought quotes from 25 potential landscape contractors but was only able to put one possible design and estimate
in front of the committee.
This design was viewed favourably by councillors. It included a combination of tree and shrub planting, new block paving, and seating.
The trees and shrubs were selected for all-year round attractiveness and would not damage the pavement as they became established.
Councillors agreed to recommend the scheme to full council with the expectation that, if agreed, the new garden will be funded by a bequest
made to the town by Miss Coe some years' ago.
AND ANGRY TRADERS HAVE THEIR SAY . . .
DOWNHAM should steer clear of car park charges if the town is to survive the current economic challenges say local traders.
The business community and local residents are likely to turn out in force for tonight's Town Council meeting when the topic comes up for discussion.
"If they bring in charges it really will be the end of the town as
we know it," said Michael Knott, who opened his High Street photographer's shop in 1968. "I think I've been here longer than anyone and people I know are up in arms about it all. The traders are already struggling because of the economic conditions and having to pay for car parking will just tear the heart out of Downham.
"They've been on about doing something similar in Wisbech for the past 10 years, but parking is still free there and that's where people will head for if the council introduces parking here," said Michael, pointing out the main town centre car park is already unavailable two days of the week, because of the market.
"I've not found anyone in favour of it yet – apart from the councillors,
but people are not stupid. If these charges come in, they'll weigh it all up and just head off to do their shopping somewhere else," he said.
Maureen Hibling, of The Sew Inn, is not adverse to charges of a reasonable level so that car park monitoring can be carried out to
ensure a good turnover of parking spaces but she feels the first
two hours should be free.
"That's my personal opinion and I would be in favour of people having to take and display a ticket in their vehicles so it could be monitored," she said. "I reluctantly support some kind of paid-for parking, but to have to pay from the outset, when one supermarket has its own free car park would, again in my view, be a bad move," said Maureen, who accepts there have been instances when people have abused the system, leaving a car in town while working away for days on end or
on a two-week coach trip.
"I just hope the Town Council will have a meeting open for discussion
and not make a decision without consultation."
Free parking is something that's always gone in Downham's favour and brought people to the town, says Danielle Welham-Smith, of Lewks, in Wales Court.
"If there were suddenly charges on a scale like Lynn, I think it would put people off and drive them elsewhere," she said.
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Weather for King's Lynn
Sunday 12 February 2012
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