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Report to:
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Lead Member for
Transport & Environment
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Date of
meeting:
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18 July
2022
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By:
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Director of
Communities, Economy and Transport
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Title:
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Introduction of Car
Parking Charges in Millbrook Car Park, Ashdown Forest
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Purpose:
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This report seeks
agreement from Lead Member to support changes to car parking
arrangements at the A22 Millbrook Hill car parks, Ashdown
Forest
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RECOMMENDATION:
The Lead Member is
recommended to agree the introduction of parking charges
on East Sussex County Council land at Millbrook Hill, Ashdown
Forest
1
Background Information
1.1
Ashdown Forest is the largest public open space in the south east
of England and currently attracts more than 1.5 million visitors
each year. The Forest is owned by the Ashdown Forest Trust, of
which East Sussex County Council (ESCC) is the sole Trustee. The
Forest is managed by the Conservators of Ashdown Forest under the
Ashdown Forest Act 1974.
1.2
The object of the Ashdown Forest Trust is to promote the
conservation of Ashdown Forest as a quiet and natural area of
outstanding beauty and as an amenity and place of resort for
members of the public.
1.3
The Board of Conservators of the Ashdown Forest identified
significant budget pressures in managing the Forest and sought
alternative means of raising revenue subsequently agreeing, in July
2021, to explore the potential and feasibility of charging for the
use of Forest car parks. The Conservators then undertook a six-week
consultation from October to December 2021 to seek views on the
proposal to introduce parking charges.
1.4
On 31 January 2022, following the conclusion of the consultation,
the Board of Conservators voted unanimously to introduce charges
for parking in the car parks located on Ashdown Forest and operated
by the Conservators.
1.5
The Ashdown Forest Act 1974 includes a requirement to submit
details of their proposed car park charges to the County Council
for approval. On 28 April 2022, Lead Member for Resources and
Climate Change approved the proposal for car park charging by the
Conservators on land owned by the Ashdown Forest Trust
1.6
The proposed parking tariffs are yet to be finalised pending a
tendering process to procure a parking management contractor to
install parking machines, signing and to manage the car parks.
However, the Conservators have indicated that parking charges will
be in the range:
·
£1.50 to £2.00 for up to 1 hour
·
£2.50 for up to 2 hours
·
£4.00 for up to 4 hours
·
£5.00 to £6.00 for an all-day pass (16 hours) –
no overnight parking
·
£80 to £100 for an annual parking pass.
2 Supporting
Information
2.1 Within the car parks
managed by the Conservators, there are some areas of ESCC land.
This includes land adjacent to the A22 on Millbrook Hill
(Appendix 1, Plan 1) which is not managed by the Conservators. The
Millbrook car parks are open areas of hard standing to the east and
west of the carriageway (Appendix 2, Photographs 1 and 2).
However, the parking areas are oversized, and the surface is
currently in poor condition. A scheme to introduce more formal
parking arrangements is programmed for delivery in summer 2022
which includes a reduction in the car parks size and new surfacing
to reduce ongoing maintenance costs (Appendix 1, Plan 2).
2.2 As part of these works, and
in line with the Forests wider management of parking, the small car
park 650m north of the Millbrook car parks on the west side of the
A22 known locally as Vachery car park will be closed.
2.3 The Millbrook car parks are
situated on land owned by both ESCC and the Ashdown Forest Trust on
an approximate 50/50 basis (Appendix 1, Plan 3).
2.4 In line with the
Conservators’ plans to introduce car parking charges, it is
proposed that ESCC should therefore permit a tariff to be charged
for parking on land owned by ESCC in the Millbrook car parks. This
would provide a single combined area of charging. The Conservators
would manage the parking using a consistent approach across the
Forest.
2.5 The net car parking income
from the Millbrook car parks would be shared on an equal basis
between the Conservators and the Council. The net parking income
would be the parking tariff less the fee charged by the parking
management contractor.
2.6 The Council’s share
of the income stream would contribute to the cost of maintenance of
the Millbrook car parks, supporting the Council’s priority of
making the best use of resources in the short and long-term.
2
Conclusion and Reasons for Recommendations
3
3.1 The Board of Conservators
explored the potential for introducing parking charges and have
deemed that these charges are necessary for the long-term
preservation, use and enjoyment of the Ashdown Forest as an amenity
space for the public.
3.2
The introduction of parking charges at the Millbrook Car Parks will
provide a consistent approach to managing parking across the
Ashdown Forest. The ESCC share of revenue generated by the tariffs
will contribute towards to maintenance of the Millbrook car
parks.
3.3
The Lead Member for Transport and Environment is therefore
recommended to grant the approval of parking charges at Millbrook
Car Parks subject to the finalising of specific charging tariffs on
completion of the tendering process referred to in 1.6 above.
Director of Communities, Economy
and Transport
Contact Officer: Karl
Taylor
Tel. No. 01273 482207
Email: karl.taylor@eastsussex.gov.uk
LOCAL
MEMBERS
All members whose
electoral Divisions are within areas covered by the Ashdown
Forest
BACKGROUND
DOCUMENTS
Agenda
for Lead Member for Resources and Climate Change on Thursday, 28th
April, 2022, 2.00 pm