Driving away customers

Statistics can be misleading; however, an occupancy rate of just 41.2 per cent for NP’s CBD car parks for the past year is a concern. (TDN, Jan

3 ‘‘$1.3million in fines for parking’’.) This occupancy rate is also significantly less than the 55 per cent for the year before, and well short of the NPDC’s target of 85 per cent.

Despite installing a hi-tech parking system in

2012 at a cost of $1.2m to better monitor 1600 car parks, yearly revenue has hovered between $3.2m to $3.6m (for the last five years) while annual costs have gone from $1.9m in 2014-15 to $2.3m in the last financial year.

These figures, in my opinion, are not an indictment on the existing car-parking system; rather they suggest customers are drifting away from the CBD. This trend also reinforces why the CBD 2050 strategic discussions are important. And why our leaders need to think outside the square to revive our CBD.

Given that fines brought in $1.3m in the last year, and drivers get a 10-minute grace period, it may be time for the NPDC to trial a bold change – such as free parking for the first hour, with a shorter clemency period.

I read with interest that surplus money from parking fines goes towards offsetting rates and funding ‘‘See It in the City’’ projects, which bring vibrancy into the CBD. I would like all parking surplus revenue to go towards CBD improvements.

Since CBDs across NZ are struggling to compete with shopping complexes (on the outskirts of town), offering free parking and big box retailers– with an emphasis on huge discounts – it makes sense to ensure that parking in the CBD is as stress-free as possible.

Bryan Vickery,

New Plymouth