Plans to charge for parking at War Memorial Park

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Plans to charge for parking at War Memorial Park

Postby dutchman » Tue Nov 12, 2019 9:14 pm

People could also be charged to use the popular Splash 'n' Play feature there

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People could soon be charged to park at one of Coventry's best-loved parks - and to use the popular Splash 'n' Play feature there.

Parking at the War Memorial car park will no longer be free under plans revealed as part of the council's budget setting process for 2020/21, however the park and ride will be unaffected.

The new charges, which have not been revealed, are hoped to bring in £300,000-a-year.

A charge of £1 has been proposed for the Splash N’ Play children’s feature - which is hoped to bring in £15,000 each year - in a bid to plug a huge £16.7 million council funding hole.

The feature is a popular summer addition to the War Memorial Park with it 36 water jets, but new charges are hoped to "offset the ongoing maintenance costs", the council has said.

Cllr John Mutton, cabinet member for finance, said the car parking charges would tackle ‘improper use’.

He said: “There are car parks they can pay to park all day.

“But people are parking there and walking into town and into the train station.

“We know that is happening.

“There is nothing wrong with a park and ride if you are using it properly, but there is a significant number of people using it as a free car park.”

Plans will go to cabinet on November 19 and out for consultation, before approval in the new year.

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Re: Plans to charge for parking at War Memorial Park

Postby dutchman » Wed Nov 20, 2019 4:50 pm

U-turn over parking charges at War Memorial Park

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Coventry council is planning a u-turn on plans to scrap free car parking at the War Memorial after uproar, a leading councillor has admitted.

The suggestion visitors to the park could be hit with charges was reported by CoventryLive last week.

But the proposal sparked a furious reaction from readers who said they would refuse to pay the levy.

Now the city council has altered its proposal and suggested a scheme where visitors could park for free for up to three hours parking.

A charge would then be imposed for those wanted to stay longer cllr John Mutton has said.

The Labour-led authority first revealed its plans to charge for parking as part of its pre-budget proposals earlier in November.

Announcing the plans to the media, cabinet member for finance Cllr Mutton said it was intended to tackle ‘improper use’ and stop people who use it to walk to jobs in the city centre, or those who use the train station.

Charges were hoped to bring in £300,000 a year as the authority looks to plug a £16.7 million funding gap for 2020/21.

But following criticism of the plans, Cllr Mutton admitted the authority is likely to rethink proposals which would keep parking free for three hours.

He told a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, November 19: “One of the things that’s absolutely loud and clear – and it does follow an article in the Coventry Telegraph – is that people are saying it is far better to have the first three hours free of parking at the Memorial Park so that those who we wish to catch who are abusing it and parking there and going to the station will still have to pay for parking.

“But people using the park for what it is intended to be used for up to three hours – whether it is dog walkers, playing football, or whatever – will still be able to do that without being charged.”

Plans in the consultation will not change, but the change is likely to be altered in proposals before the budget is approved in February.

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Re: Plans to charge for parking at War Memorial Park

Postby dutchman » Sat Feb 22, 2020 5:47 pm

Fears that parking problems will be made worse by War Memorial fees

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New parking charges at the War Memorial park would result in commuters parking in residential roads to avoid paying the fees, it is feared.

Coventry City Council announced plans as part of its budget to end all-day free parking at the War Memorial and limit free parking to three hours.

Council bosses say the move has been designed to stop “improper” use by those who park to catch a train or for those who work in the city centre.

But it has led to concern that residential roads around the park, as well as those near the train station, could see a surge of commuter parking.

Cllr Roger Bailey said: “If you start charging people to use the park and ride they will start to look for other places around to park for free.

“That’ll impact the roads and it will impact my ward Cheylesmore.

“They are going to penalise people who work in the city.

“The whole principle is a park and ride so that is something I am concerned about.

“It is essentially another tax on people.

“I would like it to be free so more people can park in the War Memorial and there’s less impact on the streets surrounding it. We have enough problems in Cheylesmore.”

Residents around Coventry train station have previously raised concerns about problem parking caused by commuters, with claims they are using residential roads ‘as a free car park’.

The issue has been debated at the council following numerous petitions, while Cllr Bailey himself also championed the launch of Cheylesmore parking schemes, which restrict parking to residents only.

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Re: Plans to charge for parking at War Memorial Park

Postby Melisandre » Sat Feb 22, 2020 10:15 pm

I wonder if this is a future plan to get more money in fines out of us or to put people off visiting so they can sell the land off to developers for student flats as I have in the past had emails from 38 degrees plans to sell off our parks. After all from recent past nothing is sacred from a bulldozer in this city.
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Re: Plans to charge for parking at War Memorial Park

Postby dutchman » Fri Jun 04, 2021 8:44 pm

Parking charges at War Memorial Park to be introduced for the first time in July

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Parking charges for the War Memorial Park will begin in July, it has been announced.

Charges will be introduced at Leamington Road car park, Coat of Arms Bridge Road and Kenilworth Road and will start on Monday, July 5.

Coventry City Council agreed to introduce charges last December to tackle “misuse” of the car park by those parking to commute or visit the city centre.

Initial proposals were to end all free parking, but a backlash from residents and councillors led the authority to retain free parking for up to three hours.

People using the park and ride at Kenilworth Road will pay £1 alongside the bus fee, and be required to request a discounted ticket on board.

Full charges include:

  • Up to 3 hours: Free
  • 3 – 4 hours: £3.00
  • 4 – 5 hours: £4.00
  • Over 5 hours: £5.00
  • Weekly Pass: £17.50
  • Park & Ride (Kenilworth Road): £1.00
The council has said it expects to recoup £120,000 a year from the new fees, which will go towards implementing the scheme and park improvements.

Evidence for the new parking policy has been criticised by opposition Conservatives however after councillors were told it is based on “anecdotal” evidence from park staff that non-park users were parking in the car parks.

In a meeting in January, councillors were told Leamington Road car park was most affected by non-park users parking to visit the train station or city centre, however then- Earlsdon councillor Allan Andrews criticised why this had led to a “blanket” charge across all three car parks.

Pay machines will be installed in the Kenilworth Road site in the War Memorial Park from next week, which the council said could lead to some ‘minor disruption’.

Work on the Pay-on-Foot barrier system at Kenilworth Road will take around a month to complete.

Pay and Display machines at the smaller car parks at Leamington Road and Coat of Arms Bridge Road will also be installed ready for the July 5 go-live date.

Payment will be cashless to reduce the risk of vandalism and cut operational costs, the council said.

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