Free parking trial not a done deal

A survey showed 54 per cent of respondents would visit the downtown area more often to shop and for entertainment if parking improved.

Shoppers will have to wait until later this year to discover whether the Tauranga City Council supports a free parking trial in the downtown.

And if the council does back the trial, it may not happen until the quieter shopping months of autumn and winter next year.

Council transport manager Martin Parkes said the more in-depth report sought by the council in July would not be ready in time for this month's round of meetings.

He was responding to the Bay of Plenty Times asking whether the report would be available in the two months indicated in the July meeting of the council. July's decision opened up a whole raft of other things, rather than parking as an isolated item.

Mr Parkes said staff were now working on a report that looked at the whole economic picture of the city centre, not just the single question of whether free parking would help its vibrancy. "Staff are looking at the bigger picture."

The demand for carparks increased during the spring and summer and to trial free parking during these busier times was not giving it a fair crack. It needed to happen in the quieter autumn and winter months, he said.

Mr Parkes said the paper that went to the council in July was mainly from Mainstreet Tauranga with a bit of background information from staff, but there had not been enough depth to satisfy councillors.

July's council meeting defeated the proposal to introduce two hours' free parking on streets and one hour of free parking in the Spring St parking building. The council decided it had not been given enough information.

This was despite a 600-person survey in which 54 per cent said they would visit the downtown area more often to shop and for entertainment if parking improved. Fifteen per cent wanted more and better shops.

Of those who answered parking, 38 per cent said car parking needed to be cheaper or free, while 22 per cent wanted better access to parks and parking buildings.

The meeting backed concerns by Councillor John Robson that people wanted so-called free parking until they had to pick up the tab. If the trial had been successful and led to permanent free parking, the trade-off would have been a 1.5 per cent rates increase to offset the loss of revenue.

"It has not been thought through properly, we are reacting too quickly ... if we don't get this trial properly structured and implemented, it will bite you with vengeance," he said.

Cr Robson said this week that there was no firm date to make a decision because it was a complex topic.

Parking

*Tauranga City Council staff are working on a report on the city centre.
*In July a council meeting defeated a proposal for two hours' free parking on streets and one hour of free parking in the Spring St parking building.
*In July a 600-person survey showed 54 per cent said they would visit the downtown area more often to shop and for entertainment if parking improved.
*38 per cent said car parking needed to be cheaper or free, while 22 per cent wanted better access to parks and parking buildings.

What do you think?
Email editor@bayofplentytimes.co.nz, go to our facebook page, text 021 241 4568 BOP (message) or write to Private Bag 12002.
Response may be published.