TAMESIDE councillors will tell the public ‘nothing is off the table’ as it reviews its car parking provision.
A final report will be brought forward in April as charges, particularly in town centres, are looked at – with a plan to implement recommendations from June.
Stalybridge and Hyde MP Jonathan Reynolds has already told the council to introduce free parking for three hours in town centres.
And ahead of a meeting of the authority’s executive cabinet on Wednesday, January 29, the man in charge of the appraisal, Cllr Stephen Homer, will point out anything could happen – but as things stand, it is not working.
He said: “It’s fair to say the current parking offer isn’t working.
“We want to attract people to shop, eat and drink in our town centres – and the current offer doesn’t do that.
“We’re looking at every option – and nothing is off the table.
“We’re really keen to hear from businesses and residents as to how we can provide a fair and sustainable parking offer which supports our town centres.”
The meeting will see a six-week public consultation launched soon afterwards after a controversial hiking of charges in 2023.
However, it will be told: “Pay and display income has increased since the 2023 review but not at the same level as tariffs as might have been expected.”
A report adds: “Tameside’s town centre offers do not have as strong a pull – due to size – as those across the rest of Greater Manchester and neighbouring areas.
“Council car parks across Greater Manchester, plus Glossop and Wilmslow, are cheaper than those in Tameside at the four hour or less period.”
Options in non-council owned car parks, like at supermarkets, will also be considered as part of the review.
And disposing of ‘underused’ facilities, as well as making sure each has at least one disabled bay, is also on the agenda as the report continues: “Surface car parks are not an aesthetic nor efficient use of land, especially in town centres where land is at a premium and an attractive street scene is a key building block.
“However, sufficient and accessible parking is essential to encourage footfall and vibrancy.
“The release of land – such as underused car parks – can unlock regeneration plans and new developments, which in turn can increase the demand for parking in the longer term (both resident and economic parking).
“It is a conflict that needs to be addressed by putting parking supply (i.e. space, not day-to-day management) at the heart of growth plans and strategic transport planning.
“It is logical for Tameside Council to consider the rapid disposal of underused car parks to enable land assembly.
“But this must be done as part of a joined-up approach to long term capacity and sustainability.”
On the impact of the disliked price rises, which have brought 98 complaints since July 2023, it states: “Pay and display income has increased at best – but not consistently – by 45 per cent on average comparing three like with like periods before and after the 2023 review.
“Consistent income growth on average sits at around a third compared comparing before and after the 2023 review.
“Since February 2024 the month-on-month percentage change in pay and display income is relatively static (-2.5 per cent on average).
“This would suggest that the income increases from late 2023 due to the step change in tariffs quickly plateaued.”