I WRITE in response to the open letter about car parking from Simon Large, the president of Cirencester Chamber of Commerce.

Mr Large sets out the case for additional car parking in Cirencester, which the council supports, as he acknowledges. The council has committed to provide a solution to parking provision, as part of the emerging Local Plan, as well as in line with our corporate strategy, which has just been approved by full council.

Indeed, our corporate strategy specifically lists this as a “key task”. Mr Large is also aware that while solutions may seem immediately obvious, in towns with magnificent heritage such as Cirencester there are very many constraints which have to be taken account of.

Mr Large accuses the council of failing to act swiftly on this matter. The reality, however, is that over the last few months we have established a cross-party Parking Board (to whose work he has contributed); consulted with other key stakeholders; undertaken a parking survey to provide some detail on the origins, in vehicle terms, of current demand and dwell times; set aside funding to commission detailed studies of the viability for the expansion of capacity on existing sites; and researched possibilities for new sites.

We expect to have the data from the viability study available to us within the next four months and to proceed to planning by the autumn.

The council recognises through its car parking usage data that there are pinch points on certain days and certain times, Fridays and Saturdays most notably.

As we all agree, with future developments planned for the town this will only get worse. The council has therefore set aside funds of up to £75,000 to expedite additional parking provision.

In addition to seeking to expand its own provision of spaces, the council is also keen to hear from developers who will be able to deliver a substantial increase in capacity as part of any package.

Far from maintaining a “stranglehold” on parking, the council is seeking to encourage development which can deliver appropriate, sensitive schemes and much-needed additional capacity.

A notable example is the recent lease of the new private car park next to the hospital to St James's Place, providing some 130 spaces.

Mr Large alludes to the council’s granting of planning permissions and promotion of schemes at Kingshill and by St James's Place.

He will be aware, however, that had the council not approved them through the planning process it would undoubtedly have been on the wrong side of an appeal by the developers.

At the same time, as a result of national planning policy, the council has little control over the amount of parking provided by developers on their own sites.

In an effort to provide some additional flexibility we have been promoting free parking after 3pm in the Brewery and Forum car parks, and we have just extended this offer to cover the period during which the Market Place refurbishment will take place.

We have also offered our Trinity Road offices car park for public use free of charge on weekends and public holidays.

Sadly, this latter offer is significantly underutilised but we will continue to promote it during this period of high demand for spaces in the town. We have also reduced parking charges at Beeches car park, which for a long period was a massively underused facility.

As a result, this now offers cheap long-term parking and is much better utilised.

Far from being tardy, the council has also sought to acquire strategic sites. For example, the council sought to purchase the former TH White site for additional parking but was, unfortunately, outbid by the developers of the retirement complex which is now under construction.

This would have provided a really useful ‘sump’ to minimise the short-term impact on parking while other opportunities were implemented.

The council has little land of its own. Nevertheless, our existing sites offer opportunities for more intensive parking through decked solutions, although the council recognises that these are not everyone’s favoured solution. Additionally, they offer the opportunity for the other three potential benefits that he lists.

The council is on the cusp of seeking proposals from the development industry for innovative solutions that we hope will meet the parking needs for the town.

We will also soon have the data from our viability studies for our existing sites. We will then be able to consult residents, as well as businesses, on these proposals to ensure we obtain the right solution for the whole of Cirencester and its environs.

Meanwhile, if additional capacity can be made available through the provision of a temporary site, it will be done.

CLLR CHRIS HANCOCK

Cabinet Member for Enterprise and Partnerships (CDC)