Introduction of Pay and Display Car Parks in Mossley

Introduction
Statutory Processes
Timeline of Events
Car Park Passes
Car Park Charges
Development of the Site
Maintenance of the Car Parks
Set up Costs
Amendment to Order
Statement of Reasons

Introduction

The current use of the land at Market Street Mossley and Mill Street Mossley as free parking is unsustainable for the Council in the circumstances of the significant ongoing budget cuts it is facing and in the interests of fairness across the borough. 

Additionally, there is evidence that the sites in Mossley, particularly Mill Street, are being used as a free park and ride facility for people commuting into Manchester by train preventing the use of these spaces for shoppers and short stay visitors to local business and services. This supported by the Mossley Town Team and other individual objectors.

By introducing pay and display charges this should discourage this possibility and provide greater options for cheap short stay parking to support local businesses. Many town centres both across the borough and also the country in general are facing a challenging period and are having to adapt to changing circumstances. It is now the norm for charges to be payable for car parking facilities and generally communities and businesses have not suffered as a consequence.

The proposed charging structure is in line with other car parks outside of Ashton Town Centre and has been designed so as not to be prohibitively expensive for people wishing to access local services and amenities, but at the same time discourage parking by commuters and long stayers.

Tameside’s car parking charging structure is extremely competitive when compared to other boroughs within Greater Manchester as the Council strives to support town centres whilst protecting assets

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Statutory Processes

Prior to the introduction of pay and display car parks Tameside has a statutory process to follow. In line with the Council’s Constitution, Council decisions are taken either by the Executive Member who has responsibility over the area the decision is being made, or by the Executive Leader. These decisions can be either an Executive Decision or a Key Decision, if the decision involves expenditure over a certain threshold or impacts one more than one ward constituency. These decisions are taken following detailed reports to the relevant committee meeting of the Council, detailing the reason for the decision, financial, legal and risk information. 

Full details on the Council’s decision making process can be found at https://tameside.moderngov.co.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=360&MId=1273&Ver=4&Info=1

In the case of the pay and display car parks at Mossley, this decision was a Key Decision, taken following a report to Executive Cabinet, as the report addressed pay and display car parking charges across Tameside.

The legal process to give effect to the resolution required the Council to make an order under Section 35 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. This involved publicising the proposed order, which was done on 13 November, with a 21-day objection period. As a number of objections were received, these needed to be considered before any order could be made. A special meeting of the Speakers Panel was held for this purpose on 14 December.

While it is not a legal requirement for such objections to be considered by a Panel of elected members, this is the method that the Council has chosen to deal with such matters in its Constitution

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Timeline of Events

Following the decision of the Panel, the legal process required the Council to make the order and then publicise its making. The order was made on 23 December and notice publicising it’s making appeared in the local newspaper on 31st December 2014.

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Car Park Passes

Contract car parking passes are available for use on all Council car parks and offer a further reduced rate for regular users. All users including visitors and residents would be expected to make the appropriate payment and would be liable for issue of a Penalty Charge Notice should they fail to comply. The car parking charges are applicable Monday to Saturday 8am to midnight. 

Should ongoing problems with residential parking be experienced the Council has a controlled parking scheme policy (often referred to as residents parking) and as such would consider any application from a significant number of residents for the implementation of such a scheme. The process requires a clear 51 percent of residents in a proposed scheme being in favour of its implementation.

It is usual that schemes are introduced on an experimental basis to allow for minor adjustments to the scheme in its initial months and for ease of its withdrawal should its functioning in reality not be suitable for those affected.

There are charges for permits to park within a scheme, currently priced at £30.00 per permit per year. In order for a scheme to be implemented funding for its introduction would have to be identified.

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Car Park Charges

Revenue raised will be put back into maintenance of facilities and allow the Council to ensure in good working order and fit for purpose. Civil Enforcement Officer presence will increase safety of facilities.

Arrangements can be made with Parking Services where community events are planned.

The council currently has to maintain the car parks at its own expense and whilst the cost to introduce charges has an initial outlay, it is estimated that the car park will pay for itself within a year. s.
 
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Development of the Site

Mossley Market Ground was registered as an asset of community value on the 10 September 2014, following an application by the Mossley Town Council. This meant that the Town Council or any other interested community group could have put forward proposals to purchase the land. No such proposals were forthcoming although the Town Council did want to retain its use as a carpark and space for the community to have special events. The parking order secures this. You can read more about assets of community value application and process at https://www.tameside.gov.uk/assetscommunityvalue

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Maintenance of the Car Parks

The income from the car park will pay for the maintenance that is currently funded from the Council’s revenue budget. The car parks will be maintained to a better standard as money will be available to be put back in to the car park. The set up costs for the car parks are as follows:

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Set up Costs

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Amendment to Order

TAMESIDE METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL
TAMESIDE METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL (OFF STREET PARKING PLACES)(AMENDMENT)(NO. 5) ORDER 2014

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Council proposes to make the above Order in exercise of its powers under section 35(1) and Schedule 9 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (as amended) and all other enabling powers. The effect of the Order will be to add car parks at Market Place and Mill Street Mossley to the Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council (Off Street Parking Places) Order 2009. The Order is intended to come into operation on 5 December 2014 or as soon as possible thereafter.
A copy of the proposed Order, statement of reasons and plans showing the land effected can be inspected at the Council’s Office at Wellington Road, Ashton-under-Lyne during usual opening hours. If you wish to object to the proposed Order, the objection together with the grounds making for it should be made in writing to the Borough Solicitor at Wellington Road Ashton-Under-Lyne, no later than 21 days after the publication of this Notice.

Dated 13 November 2014

Sandra Stewart – Borough Solicitor
Tameside MBC Council Offices Wellington Road Ashton-under-Lyne OL6 6DL

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Statement of Reasons

TAMESIDE METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL
TAMESIDE METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL (OFF STREET PARKING PLACES)(AMENDMENT)(NO. 5) ORDER 2014
STATEMENT OF REASONS

(1) Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council propose to make the above named Order as an amendment to the Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council (Off Street Parking Places) Order 2009 that came into force on the 21 December 2009. The proposed Order will incorporate additional car parks at Market Place and Mill Street Mossley. The proposed Order will add an additional 92 parking spaces (50 at Market Place and 42 at Mill Street) the purpose of which will be to provide off street parking and to regulate the operation of the car parks, raising revenue for the parking service for the benefit of the borough

Date 13 November 2014

Sandra Stewart – Borough Solicitor

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