Parking charges to rise

6
1694

Plans to increase parking charges in Rye are set to go in front of a senior county councillor next week.

On Monday, January 27 Cllr Claire Dowling, East Sussex County Council’s lead member for transport and environment, is due to consider proposals to increase on-street parking charges in the Rother district, following a public consultation last year.

The potential changes include a major overhaul of residents’ parking permits, which allow for day time parking (mostly between 8am and 6pm) in the seven permit zones in Rother. Two are in Rye – Bridge Place and Watchbell Street.

Currently the council charges a flat rate for residents’ parking permits in Rother. It costs £10 for a three-month permit, £17 for a six-month permit and £27 for a 12-month permit. The council is proposing the introduction of a new scheme, which would take into account the CO2 emissions of the vehicles tied to the permit.

If introduced, the new scheme could significantly increase costs for many permit holders. Only those with very low emission vehicles (emitting 100g/km or less of CO2) would pay less than a current permit holder, with a 12-month permit costing just £17. Vehicles with emissions above this would pay at least £60 for a 12-month permit.

The top end costs of a 12-month permit would rise to £103, although this would only apply to vehicles which emit more than 185g/km of CO2.

Parking permit areas in Rye

Costs for business permits, visitor permits and second vehicles would also increase under the proposed scheme.

Emissions-based costs would not apply to disabled parking permits, however, which would be set at a flat rate of £7 for 12 months.

Cllr Dowling will also be asked to sign off on increases in pay and display parking tariffs. The cost of one-hour of on-street parking in Rye would increase from 45p to 70p.

In a report to Cllr Dowling, a council spokesman said: “The purpose of the proposed increase … is to encourage greater use of sustainable modes of transport wherever possible, using alternative modes of transport will help to reduce vehicle congestion and pollution in the town centres.

“It is proposed that these charges are to be reviewed annually to ensure they remain appropriate, in line with the annual review which takes place for all other civil parking enforcement areas.

“Charging at a sufficient level to impact driver behaviour, can bolster the local economy by encouraging a ‘churn’ of visitors and shoppers, rather than spaces being occupied by a single user for a long period of time.

“The proposals for the on-street parking charges aim to encourage greater use of off-street car parks, reduce the number of vehicles driving on town centre roads searching for parking spaces, and aim to encourage greater use of alternative modes of transport which in turn will reduce harmful emissions and improve air quality.

“These outcomes will make these towns a more appealing place to work, live and visit and thereby boost the local economy.”

Image Credits: James Stewart , ESCC .

Previous articleA new way to cut crime
Next articleBird flu at Udimore farm

6 COMMENTS

  1. I’ve never understood why residents in Watchbell Street only pay £27 for an on street parking permit. Being most of the houses in the citadel are second homes or Air BnBs, seems even more unfair when residents in Udimore pay £450 a year to park on Gibbet Marsh, the cheapest carpark in Rye.

  2. Try using ‘sustainable modes of transport’ in most rural areas. Especially after dark. I’d happily hop on the train for my shopping, social or civic outings but unfortunately South Eastern effectively closed the station I live a few yards from. It is still well and expensively maintained and has all the most up to date equipment and information channels. Just no trains!

  3. What do Co2 emissions have to do with councils? It’s just a transparent excuse for creaming more money into their coffers and wages.
    Surely being parked means you are NOT emitting Co2 and you should be rewarded for it!
    And what about electric cars that don’t emit Co2?

  4. I am willing to use ‘sustainable transport’ but in reality it is rarely feasible. The bus service in my village is two hourly, sometimes it is possible to get to a meeting on time, frequently it isn’t.
    The return journey can be difficult if you miss the bus – two hours is a very long time to wait! Our old hourly service was bad enough but I did use it more, now it rarely works out for me time wise, luckily I have a car, many who rely on the bus don’t.

  5. Not to mention fillings being jolted out of teeth, and stomach lurching when the bus driver goes over potholes, which are unavoidable and numerous.

  6. Perhaps some of the “fortunes” being made from car parks could possibly be used to fix some of the holes in the roads that are getting dangerous to drive on!!

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here