This in from David on behalf of Ventnor Town Council. Ed
This interesting experiment in local management is the outcome of a twelve-month collaborative discussion with the Isle of Wight Council and its Officers.
The Town Council’s interest in local management centred on the largely unused Dudley Road Car Park, just 100 metres from the old Coastal Visitor Centre and its development plans for it. The plans involved the building’s refurbishment to provide 19 offices for public services and small businesses: that’s now complete with more than 40 staff in residence and significant demand for parking facilities.
Community Right to Challenge
When the Town Council’s application under the Community Right to Challenge to manage all eight of the town’s Car Parks was refused, interest expanded to include three other low use Car Parks along with Dudley Road: although the four together provide almost 200 of the 500 Pay & Display off street parking spaces available in Ventnor, they have routinely provided only 12% of the income from the machines.
Discussions between the two Councils started in April last year and have been constructive throughout.
Reduction in charges
The Town Council has decided its initial changes will be the return to the charges in place before the recent increases for Dudley Road, Market Street and Pound Lane.
A completely different approach is being adopted at Shore Road, Bonchurch, with charges set at £1 for the first hour and £3 for the full day. Signage will be changed after 6pm on Friday 31 July.
The Lease Agreement runs to 30 March 2038 to match the term of the PFI contract as Island Roads retain responsibility for car park maintenance. The agreed rent is set at the average of the last three years Pay & Display income.
Ventnor permit
A new Ventnor Town Council Permit will be available to any one resident of a household within 200 metres of any one of these Car Parks for any one vehicle at a cost of £120 a year.
