1.         Manage Parking Provision

a)   Manage on and off-street public parking efficiently to support use by the intended categories of user and to minimise the effect of parking on the environment.

b)   Work with private and public owners of public off-street car parks to assist in achieving the objectives of the Area Transport Strategy, recognising the need to achieve and maintain the balance of supply and demand in the total number of spaces as important factors in providing for local transport needs.

c)   Recognise the need to maintain the vitality and viability of Town Centres and therefore favour short-term parking for shoppers and visitors at the expense of long stay parking.

d)   Set parking charges at appropriate levels for the local area to balance parking supply and demand, taking account of transport strategies and the economic viability of commercial centres. 

e)   Consider the need for the Council to continue to have the ability to influence parking and transport strategies when considering the disposal of land currently used for parking purposes.

f)     Enforce parking regulations effectively and introduce measures to assist, such as residents’ parking and additional opportunities likely to emerge from the Traffic Management Act and other national initiatives.

2.         Reduce the demand for parking

a)   Be consistent with national and County Council guidelines and apply the maximum car parking standards to developments in accordance with Hampshire Parking Strategy and Standards.

b)   Encourage employers, schools, colleges and similar establishments to introduce travel plans, school workplace parking charges and other initiatives to reduce the need for parking. Develop a travel plan for Havant Borough Council, to encourage staff to use alternative means of transport.

c)   Introduce more cycle parking for public use.

3.         Set appropriate charges

a)   Set parking charges which do not discourage the use of local facilities or disadvantage local business.

b)   Seek to ensure a consistent approach to charging levels by considering the charging strategies of private operators within the Borough and those of neighbouring authorities.

c)   At minimum recover the costs of the service and where appropriate consider options for increasing income through additional charges.

4.         Provide facilities for people with mobility impairments

a)   Parking spaces for people with disabilities to be designed to take account of best practice and guidance.

b)   Spaces for people with disabilities to be located close to the entrances to the facilities the car park serves, ideally no further than 50 metres.

c)   A high degree of enforcement will be provided to prevent the misuse of designated disabled bays by vehicles not displaying a blue badge.

d)   Support the initiative to inspect blue badges, as provided for by the Traffic Management Act.

5.         Provide safe facilities

a)   Car parks to have high levels of lighting to assist in reducing crime and the fear of crime.

b)   All car parks to be regularly patrolled by uniformed staff.

c)   Detailed safety inspections of the car park infrastructure to be undertaken every six months. Identified defects to be prioritised and rectified within appropriate target times.

d)   All car parks to be regularly cleaned and broken glass to be removed promptly. Particular attention to be taken where recycling facilities are provided within car parks.

e)   The Council will seek to achieve the Safer Parking Award for at least some of its car parks, where cost effective.

6.         Customer service standards

a)   To respond to appeals against penalty charge notices within 5 working days.

b)   Complaints against the service to be dealt with through the Council’s formal complaints procedure

c)   All staff to be trained in their responsibilities to ensure working practices are fully understood and implemented.

d)   An annual report to be published providing information on expenditure, revenue collected, use of surpluses and PCN statistics.