Decision Details

Implemented

Free After Three and Parking Charges

The ‘Free After Three’ initiative was intended to support our high street businesses given the current challenging conditions through the offer of free parking to attract residents and visitors to Carlisle City Centre.  The trial is due to end on the 31^st August 2020.

Alternative support is being offered to commuters to Carlisle as follows -

It is proposed that we extend the early bird tariff from 9.30am to 10.30am Monday to Friday, this will support businesses returning to work on a phased basis.

The reinstatement of car park charges from 1^st June, has now allowed us to look at options to assit business on their return to work, one of these options is the extension of the early bird scheme. The early bird scheme currently ends at 9.30am Monday to Friday and is available in

• West Walls
• Sands Car Park
• Swifts Car Park
• Viaduct

It is proposed to extend the early bird scheme until 10.30am.

To support the local economy, it is proposed that we offer a check in/check out system on our pay and display machines, this will be used initially in West Walls Car Park before being rolled out to other car parks.

This scheme will allow visitors to check in using their card and not worry about having to rush back and be limited to the time spent in the City. The system means they will only pay for the time they are in the car park. Once they return to the car park they can then check out.

As well as considering the above we are also looking at further support including but not limited to additional free parking on the run up to Christmas and free targeted parking to support events within the City.

The Council currently offers a pay by phone service in conjunction with MiPermit. There is a 10p service charge to users of this app: to encourage contactless payments and to assist commuters the Council will  pay this charge.

To formally consult on the phasing out of the Free After Three initiative by 31^st August 2020 and its replacement thereafter by the parking support options outlined above.

No

Councillor Nigel Christian

Thu 18 Jun 2020

Report will be considered by the Executive in July

 It is widely recognised that this is a difficult time for business, residents and visitors, and to help support recovery, and to offer alternative options to parking, we are proposing as follows.

 ·       The proposal to end the free after three scheme is to allow other options being given to businesses and visitors to Carlisle.

 ·       There have seen a number of obstacles which has prevented an adequate understanding of whether the free after three has been beneficial, closure of the Victoria Viaduct and COVID19.

 ·       The early bird scheme is a very successful, and due to the potential phased return of business by extending the scheme it will allow key workers the ability to park at a cheaper rate for longer. It will also encourage visitors to the area by extending the early bird hour to encourage people to stay all day in certain car parks.

 ·       The check in/check out system will allow visitors to the car park to arrive at West Walls car park, they can then check in at the pay and display machine and go into the City Centre to shop, drink, eat and not be concerned that they have a limited time to do this. This system will allow the customer to stay longer and they can check out on their return to the car park.

 ·       The Council will remove the 10p service charge on the MiPermit pay to park service that the customer pays, this will allow the customer to pay for parking without facing an additional cost.

Continuing with the free after three limits the scope to offer more flexible support going forward.

None

None

No

26 June 2020 @ 17:00 hours

29 June 2020

19 June 2020