In a move that is designed as a bid to increase shoppers footfall in Bassetlaw, BDC announced a revised schedule of parking charges applicable from 2nd September 2019. In a nutshell car parking for Shoppers will cost less and the parking charges in the Visitors carparks will be increased. This is probably as much as a local authority can do whilst enduring cuts in the government grants to local authorities. But surely the key to the rejuvenation of our Town Centres lies with Central Government. If Governments were to ensure that the online shopping giants, principally Amazon were to pay the same taxes as our indigenous businesses then we might have the makings of a solution to stem the current demise of our Town Centres. Take those taxes from the online behemoths and redistribute that wealth, NHS, improvements to infrastructure (but not for heavens sake HS2) and more to local authorities who might then do away with parking charges in our Towns and reduce business rates considerably. However……. in the meantime herewith the press release from BDC announcing the changes to parking charges:
Council parking bid to boost footfall in Town Centres
Bassetlaw District Council is set to cut the price of parking in Council owned Short-Stay Car Parks in a bid to boost footfall in Retford and Worksop’s Town Centres.
The new charges will come into force on 2nd September and will reduce Short Stay parking to 50p for one hour, £1 for two hours and £2 for three hours in six of its car parks that are currently known as ‘Shopper’ car parks. Free parking in these car parks will also continue up to 10am and after 4pm.
A new, simpler pricing structure is also proposed for its Long Stay Car Parks (currently known as Visitor Car Parks), in addition to a change to Season Ticket prices.
Cllr Jo White, Cabinet Member for Regeneration at Bassetlaw District Council, said: “Bassetlaw is one of the cheapest places to park in Nottinghamshire and by reducing the price of parking even further we hope to attract more people into our town centres and support local businesses.
“This is just one of the proposals that has been brought forward as part of a more strategic appraisal of Council owned parking facilities and how we can improve parking across the district.”
While the cost of short stay parking will be reduced, long stay parking will offer more flexibility and with a simplified price structure. The charges will change to £1 for one hour, £2 for two hours, £3 for three hours and £4 for all-day parking. Season Tickets will still provide a saving of around 50% of the daily fee, but will rise to £624 per year.
Cllr White added: “An independent review of our parking facilities took place last year and we are currently working through a number of options that have been proposed as part of this review. While long-stay parking will increase, we feel this still offers visitors value for money and our prices are still lower than the majority of other District Councils in Nottinghamshire.”
Parking Prices from 2nd September 2019
| Short Stay (Shopper) Car Parks | ||
| Current Charges | Charges from 2nd September 2019 | |
| Up to 1 hour | 70p | 50p |
| 1 to 2 hours | £1.40 | £1 |
| 2 to 3 hours | £2.70 | £2 |
| Short Stay Car Parks (Charges apply between 10am and 4pm): Worksop – Queen Street, Lead Hill. Retford – Chancery Lane North, Chancery Lane South, West Street and Carolgate. | ||
| Leisure Car Park | ||
| Current Charges | Charges from 2nd September 2019 | |
| Up to 2 hours | 70p | £1 |
| Leisure Car Park (Charges apply between 8am and 6pm): Worksop – Priorswell Road | ||
| Long Stay (Visitor) Car Parks | ||
| Current Charges | Charges from 2nd September 2019 | |
| Up to 1 hour | N/A | £1 |
| Up to 2 hours | £1.30 | £2 |
| Up to 3 hours | N/A | £3 |
| Up to 4 hours | £1.90 | N/A |
| All Day | £3.50 | £4 |
| Long Stay Car Parks (Charges apply between 8am and 6pm): Worksop – Castle Hill, Central Avenue, Farr Park, Gateford Road, Memorial Avenue, Newgate Street East, Newgate Street West, Town Hall, Ebenezer Terrace. Retford – Chapelgate, Churchgate, New Street. | ||
| Season Tickets | ||
| Current Charges | Charges from 2nd September 2019 | |
| 12 months | £465 | £624 |
| 6 months | £260 | £312 |
| 3 months | £145 | £156 |
