'Will you pay £14 a year to keep Hessle car parks free?'
A TOWN council is fighting back against plans to introduce car parking charges.
East Riding Council will be introducing charges in their car parks, possibly as soon as April.
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SPACE INVASION: Parking in Hessle Square is currently free. Picture: Jack Harland
But Hessle Town Council is bidding to take over the Hessle Foreshore and Town Square car parks and keep them free to use.
The council has sent letters to residents, asking if they would pay an extra £14 a year per household in council tax as part of the plan.
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Paul Hogan, Hessle Town and East Riding ward councillor, said this would raise the £84,000 a year needed to lease the car parks from county authority.
He said: "It is all about the local economy. Car parking charges are a risk to the town centre we can't afford to take.
"Businesses are struggling and introducing charges in the town would lead to a reduced footfall and a takings reduction.
"It could push some businesses over the edge.
"If people had to pay to park in the square, they would try to find parking along the side streets, which would lead to problems for residents trying to park themselves.
"We will wait and see how the consultation goes but so far the vast majority of people I've spoken to seem to think it is a great idea."
Despite fierce opposition, East Riding Council agreed to introduce charges to all its car parks in early 2010.
The implementation was delayed for two years because of the impact of the recession and will now only be introduced following two quarters of successive national economic growth.
East Riding Council argue it is unfair for drivers to be charged in some of its car parks and not in others.
Brian Fields, who lives in Hessle but runs a butcher's in Anlaby, is fully behind Hessle Town Council's plans and is urging other town and parish councils to consider the same idea.
He said: "I think it is a great idea to save the local shops and beat the car parking charges.
"I urge the other town and parish councils to look into a similar thing.
"The parking charges won't just have an impact on drivers but will also have an impact on people who don't have a car who like to walk to their local shops.
"People will go to supermarkets, where they can park for free and won't be looking at their watch.
"If these local shops are losing money because people have to pay to park than they might have to close down."
Residents can have their say on their proposals by e-mailing htc@ hessletown.karoo.co.uk up to November 30.
Comments
by ComeonUull
Tuesday, October 23 2012, 4:50PM
“Council Tax is about 25-30% of most councils 'income'. The rest coming from other taxes via central government.
A few things my council tax (along with my income tax) is spent on I don't use.
Libraries, Museums and art galleries
Advisory services (debt advice, housing advice and homelessness)
Free and subsidised Bus travel
Housing services
Youth Services
Disability Services
Who knows though one day I might need them!”
by Prescotts_Cat
Tuesday, October 23 2012, 4:22PM
“@ComeonUull
"@Prescotts_Cat - There are lots of households that pay for things they don't use but others do so just because you won't park doesn't mean it is unfair."
I think you need to elaborate on what households pay for and make no use of, as I think your comment is utter {censored}.”
by ComeonUull
Tuesday, October 23 2012, 2:34PM
“I only said a 30 minute restriction for those in the square, thus allowing people to pop in and say pick up a prescription, buy some flowers, their paper, use a cash point, visit the bank, the two car parks less than 50m away from the square could remain longer for those who wish to spend more time in Hessle. Footfall is vital to the health of any shopping area, the more who visit even for a short period help sustain the local economy, if they go elsewhere for those short visits they will often not visit at all.
Not sure what the parking charges are in the rest of the east riding but it will probably cost a lot more than £14 over the year if it goes ahead so council tax option is probably a lot cheaper as you are only paying for the town council to lease the car parks and not for all the cost of installing ticket machines, maintence of them and wardens to police them.”
by BroughGurl
Tuesday, October 23 2012, 1:40PM
“I don't think it matters which council area the car park is in. It is definately my opinion that a 30 minute restriction would be too short. 30 minutes would not allow visitors to visit multiple shops, make full use of the facilities and would quite possibly damage the cafe trade too. That said I don't want parking charges putting on my council tax bill either.”
by ComeonUull
Tuesday, October 23 2012, 12:09PM
“@Prescotts_Cat - There are lots of households that pay for things they don't use but others do so just because you won't park doesn't mean it is unfair, additionally as the article points out you need to think about the life of the village. If you don't have a car presumably you may make use of the shops on foot, if the charges come in, shoppers who use cars may go elsewhere and the village centre may become a ghost town of even more charity shops like many other villages.
@BroughGurl - Princes Avenue is in Hull Council area not EYRC. EYRC are looking to enforce the same parking restrictions in all its villages. Although I agree some short term parking would be good. I've always thought the parking spots in the square should be 30 mins max to allow people to pop in to the shops and increase trade.
The town concil appear to have come up with a very good solution and as long as it is always shown on the town council precept (I think that's the correct name) as a seperate item it can be removed. As the Town Council are planning to lease the car parks and pay EYRC for them so it would then be up to the Town Council who clearly have no wish or plans to charge - good to see a Town Council working hard for its residents and businesses.”
by myhesslecom
Tuesday, October 23 2012, 9:46AM
“There is a meeting about Car Parking Charges tonight at Hessle Town Hall, I will be live tweeting from it @myhesslecom
For a more in depth report on this and other aspects of what the introduction of car parking charges will mean to Hessle pop along to myhessle.com”
by audemars
Tuesday, October 23 2012, 6:32AM
“When Hull City council stated we should keep our cars out of the city centre - I did just that - I haven't been to Hull centre in over a year, Hessle will be no different. Online shopping is the future! Some things you have to physically go to but you can even get supermarket shopping online nowadays! This proposed charge will kill off hessle square.”
by jonzhome
Monday, October 22 2012, 10:36PM
“and then again Wallkington needs to be looked at too”
by jonzhome
Monday, October 22 2012, 10:33PM
“Cottingham shouldn't escape these parking nightmares”
by Prescotts_Cat
Monday, October 22 2012, 8:44PM
“What about the households which don't have, need or can afford cars? Why should they pay £14 extra for something they'll never use?
Council tax is already daylight robbery and it's ERYC profiteering yet again.”