Wokingham

Wokingham Borough Council’s proposal to introduce on-street parking charges is to be put under the spotlight by the overview and scrutiny management committee, and the people of Wokingham, including residents and retailers, are being asked to contribute their views.

Detailed proposals for the introduction of on-street car parking charges within Wokingham town centre are currently being drawn up following a decision made by the council’s executive at its meeting on May 28 to look at how the town’s parking bays could be freed-up for visitors to make a quick stop to shops, banks and other businesses in a bid to bolster trade.

The Wokingham overview and scrutiny management committee’s scrutiny review is to run in parallel with the development of these proposals, so that its findings can inform the final decisions on the scheme which are to be made in September.

And Wokingham committee chairman Cllr Angus Ross is keen for people to submit their views by the end of July so they can be considered as part of the review. The committee will also be talking to business and retail organisations, police and council officers, Wokingham Town Council, Neighbourhood Action Group and other groups including residents’ associations and those representing disabled people.

Due to report back in September, the overview and scrutiny management committee review will look into:

• How charging for on-street car parking might assist retail activity in the town centre

• How traffic management associated with on-street car parking can be used to improve traffic flows and reduce congestion in the town centre

• How future enforcement of on-street parking charges should be undertaken

• How the level of the proposed tariff might affect the objectives above.

“Having considered all the evidence, including the views of local people, we will provide a recommendation to the executive in September with regard to the introduction of on street car parking charges and possible options for enforcement,” said Cllr Ross.

The reasoning behind the proposed scheme is to free up the 180 bays in the Wokingham town centre area that are designed for shoppers and visitors to park in for a short period by introducing a fee that would encourage motorists to use the spaces responsibly.

Cllr Keith Baker, executive member for highways and transport, said: “For some time now, motorists have been flouting the clear time-restrictions applicable to parking bays dotted around Wokingham town centre and so we are looking at ways of stopping this from happening in the future.

“It’s simply not fair that businesses could be missing out on trade because short-term parking bays are clogged up with the cars of commuters and town centre workers.”

Committee chairman Cllr Angus Ross is urging local people to submit their views by Friday July 31 via email to democratic.services@wokingham.gov.uk. Alternatively, they can write to him at Democratic Services, Wokingham Borough Council, Shute End, Wokingham RG40 1WH.

Wokingham Borough Council