Press release

The following changes were agreed at the Lead Cabinet meeting for Transport & Environment on 19^th November:

• Increases to tariffs, permits and scratchcards are to be implemented as soon as practical,
• More roads are to be added to the scheme and times extended to include Sundays. These changes will be made once advertised and consultation sought.
• The scheme will be reviewed on a yearly basis working closely with Hasting Borough Council

Councillor Matthew Lock, Lead Cabinet Member for Transport & Environment said, “This is the first time that parking permits have increased in Hastings since the scheme started eight years ago. As the costs of running the scheme have increased during this time we are having to raise prices to match them.

“We are also bringing in charges and controls on Sundays bringing Hastings into line with most other seaside towns across the country.

“Whilst these changes are necessary to keep up with increasing costs, we are using this opportunity to make the best of the parking space available and tailor the scheme to meet the needs of residents, trade-persons and visitors.

“The introduction of higher charges in the core of the town centre, with no increase on the periphery, will maximise the availability of spaces in those sought after locations whilst giving a cheaper option for motorists who are prepared to park slightly further away.

“We are also seeking to discourage multiple car ownership and encourage sustainable alternatives by working with the Hastings Quality Bus Partnership to promote greater use of public transport in the town.”

Notes to editors

Since the scheme was introduced in 1999, there have been no increases in the permit charges (residents, business, daily waivers etc) or changes to the restrictions (for example, times/days when the pay & display tariffs apply) as referred to in section 2 of the report.

There have been a number of changes to the on-street pay & display tariffs. The last increase was in April 2006, as referred to in section 1 of the report and the paper produced by HBC (Appendix 3 to the report).

The additional income from these changes is estimated at approximately £195,000 per annum, comprising £65,000 from Pay and Display and £130,000 from permits and waivers. It is estimated that this additional income will offset the increases in operating costs since the last increase in charges in 2006 and anticipated increases for 2007/08. Any net income after covering costs is re-invested into transport improvements in the Hastings area.

Schedule A – Changes to be implemented as soon as practicable

• Increase residents exclusive permit cost from £52 to £75 per annum and shared residents permits to £35 per annum;
• Introduce a higher tariff (50p per 20 minutes) for bays in Zones B (White Rock), D (Wellington) and F (Old Town). There will be no changes to tariffs in Zones A, C or E;
• Increase weekly waiver to £30 and increase annual Primary Care permits to £20;and
• Increase the cost of visitor’s scratchcards to 40p per hour

Schedule B – Changes to be advertised. The results of the advertising process will be reported at a future Lead Member meeting for Transport & Environment.

• Introduce Sunday pay and display charging – currently Monday to Saturday;
• Extend pay and display charging from 9am – 6pm to 9am – 8pm;
• Introduce a higher charge of £120 for second car permits for Residents Exclusive zones and £56 for shared residents zones;
• Introduce a daily waiver and dispensation permit at £10;
• Extend shared residents parking to upper part of Linton Road;
• Extend Residents Exclusive parking restrictions in Zones A to F to 8pm;
• Extend the scheme to the lower end of Old London Road and re-designate as all shared residents parking in Zone F as residents exclusive;
• Remove the no waiting 8am to 6pm restriction on west side of Russell Street and replace with a combination of residents, pay and design disabled and loading bays.
• Introduce loading bays in Stone Street by re-designating a length of residents bay
• as loading bay and Cornwallis Street by the removal of ‘No waiting at any time’ restriction;
• Re-designate the current shared resident parking between Queens Road and Stonefield Road as pay and display bays;
• Introduce charging for suspended bays within the Traffic Regulation Order (TRO);
• Remove all pay and display bays within Linton Bridge and introduce new business only parking bays, with business permit charges at £200 per annum.

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