1. PARKING STRATEGY POLICY DEVELOPMENT Transportation & Asset Management Environment & Regeneration Scrutiny Committee 28 February 2007

2. Parking Strategy - Policy Development Policy Structure WALES SPATIAL PLAN WALES TRANSPORT STRATEGY REGIONAL TRANSPORT PLAN LOCAL TRANSPORT STRATEGIES CYCLING STRATEGY PASSENGER TRANSPORT STRATEGY WALKING STRATEGY ROADS & BRIDGES STRATEGY PARKING STRATEGY ROAD SAFETY STRATEGY PROW STRATEGY

3. Purpose of Strategy. To be consistent with and contribute to the overall aims of the Wales Transport Strategy. These are; - To achieve a greater reduction in overall travel - To achieve greater use of the more sustainable and healthy forms of travel; and - To achieve a more effective and efficient transport system. Having regard for the need to address; -The long term economic vitality of the Town Centre -The Positive contributions parking revenue makes to the delivery of Council services -The parking needs of people with disabilities -The parking needs of local residents, shops and businesses Parking Strategy - Policy Development Parking Strategy

4. Current / Emerging Situation -Town Centre Road network is showing signs of increasing congestion at certain times of the day. -reducing the accessibility of the Town Centre and damaging the potential for future economic growth -environmental concerns. -delays emergency vehicles & passenger transport services. -Parking capacity issues at certain times of the year -Commuter parking in residential areas -Parking enforcement -Disabled parking Parking Strategy - Policy Development Current / Emerging Situation

5. Parking Policy - Benefits -Help to further a wide range of urban policy objectives - Economic (Vitality of Town Centre) - Social (Accessibility) - Environmental (Negative impacts of congestion) -One of the few ways of directly managing or restraining car use - Pricing and Availability of Parking in the Town Centre -Can be introduced relatively quickly and cheaply - Compared to major infrastructure changes -Flexible and can be modified to reflect changing demands. Parking Strategy - Policy Development Parking Policy

6. Parking Policy - Disadvantages -Incomplete control of the parking stock can limit the ability to achieve desired objectives. -Conflict between the objectives that parking policy is trying to serve.(e.g. Regeneration, Traffic Restraint and Revenue Generation). -They are not a total solution and require other supporting measures if urban policy objectives are to be achieved. -Parking policy interventions can be ineffective without an adequate enforcement regime in place. Parking Strategy - Policy Development Parking Policy

7. Parking Policy - Mitigation Measures -Establish appropriate polices and use opportunities to maximise the proportion of parking over which the Council has influence with regard to quantity of parking, as well as the setting of tariffs and conditions for parking. -Ensure that the pursuit of individual parking policy objectives do not undermine other parking objectives. -As far as practical, ensure supporting measures are in place e.g. walking, cycling, passenger transport, Planning Travel Plans, Park & Ride? -Pursue the introduction of Civil Parking Enforcement (CPE) Parking Strategy - Policy Development Parking Policy

8. Local Parking Policy Objectives 1. Ensure that the parking strategies aims and objectives are consistent with the aims and objectives of national/regional and local policies. 2. Prioritise the parking needs of disabled people, local residents, suppliers of goods and services, businesses, and their customers. 3. Maintain and increase the availability of short stay parking at the expense of long-stay for purposes of shopping, leisure and personal business. 4. Investigate alternative parking arrangements for categories of car user who should be discouraged from parking in the town centre e.g. car commuters. Parking Strategy - Policy Development Parking Objectives

9. Parking Policy Objectives (continued…) 5. Promote more sustainable travel choices through the availability and pricing of town centre car parking. 6. Actively pursue the introduction of Civil Parking Enforcement to ensure parking restrictions are effectively enforced, and to minimise the impact of town centre parking controls on surrounding residential areas. Parking Strategy - Policy Development Parking Objectives

10. Long Term Objectives The long-term aim of this parking strategy is to address the negative social, economic and environmental impacts of vehicular traffic on the Town Centre -Prioritise parking in the town centre according to the type of journey that contributes to the following objectives: 1. a strong, vibrant and economically successful town centre. 2. reducing congestion and improving the efficiency of the town centre network. 3. improving the overall accessibility of the Town Centre for all sections of society especially those without access to a car. -In broad terms, this equates to the prioritisation of short stay parking in the Town Centre with alternative parking provision made for long stay parking (e.g. Park & Ride). Parking Strategy - Policy Development Long Term Objectives

11. Short Term Objectives The short-term objective of the parking strategy is to put in place those mechanisms that will help facilitate the Authority’s long-term transport aspirations -To implement an effective parking enforcement regime. -To ensure appropriate policies are in place to control the potential displacement effects of policy interventions on the Town centre parking. -To maximise the proportion of parking over which the Council has influence with regard to quantity of parking, as well as the setting of tariffs and conditions for parking. Parking Strategy - Policy Development Short Term Objectives

12. Parking Strategy - Policy Development Areas to be Addressed Parking Strategy - Short Stay Parking -Long Stay Parking -Residents Parking -Park & Ride -Disabled Parking -Parking Enforcement -Traffic Regulation Orders -On-Street Parking -Security -Planning Policy (Parking Standards Inc. Travel Plans)

13. Parking Strategy - Policy Development Timetable Development Timescale The critical timetable for the development of a draft parking strategy is dependant on the proposed submission of Wrexham’s formal application to WAG for CPE powers (July/August 2007) - As part of Wrexham’s formal application for CPE powers, it must be able to demonstrate that; 1. A review of current parking policies has been undertaken. 2. Consideration has been given as to how CPE will contribute to achieving the Authorities overall transport policies.

14. Parking Strategy - Policy Development Recommendations 1. To support the officers approach to date. 2. To agree the broad policy direction presented.