CBD parking jump to keep first hour free

The cost of parking in Marlborough is set to jump in a bid to retain free firsthour parking, but not as high as first planned.

The Marlborough District Council introduced one-hour free parking to town centres last October after a successful two-hour free trial, in a bid to draw shoppers to more businesses.

Free parking has so far cost the council about $461,000 in revenue. It is estimated to lose it another $3 million in the next decade, plunging its parking account further into deficit.

The council was due to scrap free parking at the end of this month, but instead decided to continue so residents could share their thoughts, with their view worked into the long-term plan.

To give long-term plan submitters a touchstone to work off, councillors proposed increasing the cost of parking fees by 50 per cent across the region – covering just over half of the free parking shortfall – with the rest being pulled out of rates.

But councillors were left ‘‘without a steer’’ during long-term plan deliberations this week after the public failed to make a decision. Twenty-four submissions were in support of a 50 per cent parking fee increase, while 21 were fully or partially against.

Councillor Mark Peters was the first to face down the proposal, saying he did not want to place an excess burden on ratepayers, who were already staring down the barrel of a possible 5.8 per cent rates increase – the highest in 13 years.

He instead suggested the free parking shortfall be plugged by the council’s parking account, which had earned $488,600 this year, mainly through rented car parks and parking tickets.

‘‘There is some psychology at play, and it seems to work.’’ Nadine Taylor Deputy mayor

The council’s parking account – which was already $1.9m in deficit – would rise to $3.3m in deficit if the free parking shortfall was shouldered by the account for 10 more years.

Peters suggested the parking account be reviewed in seven months as part of a wider review, when the council had more parking data, to ensure it was making the proper decision.

Until then, he put forward that the council should increase parking fees by 20 per cent, not 50 per cent. This would see parking in Blenheim and Picton jump from $1.50 an hour to $1.80.

Councillors Brian Dawson, David Croad and Gerald Hope supported the ‘‘subtle’’ increase. The three councillors tried to champion a 25 per cent parking fee increase in February, but were out voted, leading to the 50 per cent increase proposal.

Figures from consumer analyst Marketview showed credit and debit card spending in Blenheim’s town centre had jumped 1.8 per cent, compared with the same time last year.

Deputy mayor Nadine Taylor said a number of businesses attributed the jump to the one-hour free parking initiative. ‘‘There is some psychology at play, and it seems to work.’’

Councillor Michael Fitzpatrick, who owned Applianceplus in Blenheim, said free parking took the pressure off businesses.

The proposal still had to be signed off by councillors at a full council meeting on June 24. If approved, new parking fees would come into effect in Blenheim and Picton from July 1.