Source · Select Committees · Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
Recommendation 35
35
Paragraph: 153
While we recognise that some provision of parking to access high streets and town centres...
Recommendation
While we recognise that some provision of parking to access high streets and town centres is necessary for accessibility reasons, strategies for high streets should seek to minimise car use and increase public transport and active travel. The Government should commission a review of the relationship between local authority income and parking fees, with a view to reducing local authority reliance on income from parking. It should also set out a timeframe for introducing the new data standard. Separately, consideration should be given to requiring all new car parks to include secure cycle parking.
Paragraph Reference:
153
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The Government recognises the important link between parking provision and the vitality of our high streets and town centres, especially in towns outside of London where transport infrastructure does not allow citizens to use public transport. Local authorities are responsible for developing transport plans that address the needs of their area. This not only includes providing adequate accessible parking but ensuring there are attractive alternatives to driving a car all the way to a destination, including suitable walking and cycling infrastructure. We are aware of concerns that local authorities are using parking to raise revenue. Statutory guidance is clear that if a local authority does generate a surplus, they must reinvest it back into their transport budget. We are also aware of concerns that penalty charge notice (PCN) rates, especially outside of London, are too low to deter illegal and dangerous parking. It is important to balance the local authority income from PCNs with the need to ensure that PCN rates are acting as a sufficient deterrent to motorists. We committed in the Build Back Better High Streets Strategy in July 2021 that we would consider what further reforms can be made to the municipal parking regime to make high streets more accessible and ensure join up with local transport plans. Once transport patterns have begun to stabilise following COVID-19, we will engage with local authorities on the issue of local authority income and parking services. As the Committee is aware, the Government is currently in the process of implementing the Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019, which includes the creation of a new single Code of Practice that will bring in greater regulation of the private parking industry, improve standards and provide consistency for motorists across Britain. The new Code, which was published on 7 February, includes higher standards for signage and surface bays and a mandatory 10-minute grace period to prevent parking companies issuing charges to motorists who are just a few minutes late. These measures will also be important in ensuring the accessibility of high streets and town centres.