Park and Ride would cash in on parking fees hike
Visitors to Maidstone may have to pay more to park to help solve the town’s congestion problem.
When the borough council submitted its Local Plan proposals to the government inspector, it promised it would take measures to encourage “modal shift” from the private car to public transport, cycling or walking.
Ideally, it would like expand the use of the town’s two remaining Park and Ride sites in London Road and Willington Street, but the service is currently poorly used and costs a net £242,000 a year to run.
Consultants have suggested the service could be made more attractive by running the buses later until 7pm each night and by increasing their frequency from every 20 minutes to every 15 minutes, and introducing card payments, but this would all add at least another £35,000 to the annual subsidy.
To encourage drivers to switch to Park and Ride, officers are recommending a “rebalancing” of Park and Ride charges compared with town centre car parks.
At present the civic car parks offer a discount to long-stayers – the first hour is usually the dearest, with subsequent ones getting progressively cheaper.
Radical proposals would see a standard hourly rate introduced at all the borough’s car parks, so a four-hour stay would cost exactly twice as much as a two-hour one.
It is also proposed to “zone” the town, so motorists parking in the most popular quarters would pay proportionately more than if they parked on the outskirts.
The council’s strategic planning committee will meet on Monday. If members approve the proposals, motorists staying four hours in council car parks would face increases ranging from 50p in the College Road car park, to an extra £1.20 in the King Street car park, according to the zoning.
However, drivers staying only one hour could see a small reduction.
Officers are also proposing a single charge of £2.50 be made to ride the Park and Ride bus. At present the charge is £2.60 at peak periods and £1.60 offpeak.
It is believed the changes could bring in an extra £193,000, which could support the cost of the Park and Ride.