Alex Alex Dawson oo! oo!
Primary data is fact
As part of the ongoing dialogue between the Club and B&HCC officers whilst the stadium extension application is under consideration, the results of the street parking surveys undertaken by the Club have been published on the Council website:
In Coldean an additional 241 parked vehicles (+32%) were recorded, for North Moulsecoomb the figures were 290 (+58%). Both surveys were undertaken on Sat 4 February with the baseline on Sat 21 January.
Verbatum from the Club's submission:
"Remedial Measures
The Club intend to introduce a number of remedial measures that seek to address inappropriate supporter parking in both Moulsecoomb and Coldean. These are as follows:
- The Club is intending to run a publicity campaign advising spectators of the official match-day parking facilities that are currently available and of the need to be ‘good neighbours’ and avoid parking within local residential streets;
- For the 2011/12 season ticket vouchers for the use of Public transport were sold separately from the match ticket. This was because of the unfortunate rules relating to the collection of VAT which penalises the Club if it combines the travel voucher with the match ticket.
However if the travel voucher is combined with the match ticket it is a further incentive for supporters to use Public Transport and so for the 2012/13 season it is proposed to combine the travel voucher with the match ticket. This was the ticket pricing mechanism that formed part of the Withdean transport strategy. Each ticket sold incorporates free travel to and from the stadium on match days on both buses and trains used within a wide zone in Sussex;
- The club has submitted a new planning application to deliver a temporary planning permission for a relocation of spaces within the land area of the former Falmer High School. It is anticipated that 684 spaces would usually be provided within the parking area.;
- The Club is to amend the current car park pricing policy and substantially reduce the cost of parking within the official match-day car parks. This will further encourage those supporters that wish to drive to the stadium by car, but that currently park inappropriately within Moulsecoomb and Coldean, to use the official match-day car parks.
It is anticipated that the above measures are likely to have a substantial effect in addressing inappropriate supporter parking that may occur in both Moulsecoomb and Coldean.
As previously stated, a mechanism for addressing any inappropriate parking in Moulsecoomb is included within the s106 for the original stadium consent and this obligation remains. With regards to Coldean, some measures have already been implemented. Temporary signage is being placed in this area on a match day, and a TRO has been implemented to ease traffic flows restricted by parked vehicles.
Further Action
Whilst the on-street parking surveys on both a non-match day and match day suggest that some inappropriate spectator parking may be taking place within both Moulsecoomb and Coldean, our strong
view is that, given the measures that are to be introduced, it would be premature to consider consultation on the implementation of a permanent residents’ parking scheme within either of these
areas. Instead, we recommend that Moulsecoomb continue to be identified as a ‘monitored parking zone’ with the retention of the current advisory ‘residents parking only’ signs for use on match-days, and that a similar scheme be extended to cover Coldean as part of the current application. This would allow the
effects of the remedial measures outlined above to be fully assessed and, should inappropriate parking continue to be taking place, then consultation on the implantation of a permanent residents’ parking scheme can be pursued at that time.
We do, however, acknowledge that the highway authority’s view is that the applicant should be required to fund a DfT ‘light touch’ match-day residents’ parking scheme to be implemented, subject to public consultation, at the start of the 2012/13 season.We would reiterate our view that it would be prudent for spectator traffic to be monitored during the 2012/13 season following the implementation of the remedial measures, and request that the Council consider this. However, in the event that the Council continue to consider it necessary to consult on the implementation of a match-day residents’ parking scheme, we would request that the Council provide details of likely costs associated with a scheme for this specific nature."
In Coldean an additional 241 parked vehicles (+32%) were recorded, for North Moulsecoomb the figures were 290 (+58%). Both surveys were undertaken on Sat 4 February with the baseline on Sat 21 January.
Verbatum from the Club's submission:
"Remedial Measures
The Club intend to introduce a number of remedial measures that seek to address inappropriate supporter parking in both Moulsecoomb and Coldean. These are as follows:
- The Club is intending to run a publicity campaign advising spectators of the official match-day parking facilities that are currently available and of the need to be ‘good neighbours’ and avoid parking within local residential streets;
- For the 2011/12 season ticket vouchers for the use of Public transport were sold separately from the match ticket. This was because of the unfortunate rules relating to the collection of VAT which penalises the Club if it combines the travel voucher with the match ticket.
However if the travel voucher is combined with the match ticket it is a further incentive for supporters to use Public Transport and so for the 2012/13 season it is proposed to combine the travel voucher with the match ticket. This was the ticket pricing mechanism that formed part of the Withdean transport strategy. Each ticket sold incorporates free travel to and from the stadium on match days on both buses and trains used within a wide zone in Sussex;
- The club has submitted a new planning application to deliver a temporary planning permission for a relocation of spaces within the land area of the former Falmer High School. It is anticipated that 684 spaces would usually be provided within the parking area.;
- The Club is to amend the current car park pricing policy and substantially reduce the cost of parking within the official match-day car parks. This will further encourage those supporters that wish to drive to the stadium by car, but that currently park inappropriately within Moulsecoomb and Coldean, to use the official match-day car parks.
It is anticipated that the above measures are likely to have a substantial effect in addressing inappropriate supporter parking that may occur in both Moulsecoomb and Coldean.
As previously stated, a mechanism for addressing any inappropriate parking in Moulsecoomb is included within the s106 for the original stadium consent and this obligation remains. With regards to Coldean, some measures have already been implemented. Temporary signage is being placed in this area on a match day, and a TRO has been implemented to ease traffic flows restricted by parked vehicles.
Further Action
Whilst the on-street parking surveys on both a non-match day and match day suggest that some inappropriate spectator parking may be taking place within both Moulsecoomb and Coldean, our strong
view is that, given the measures that are to be introduced, it would be premature to consider consultation on the implementation of a permanent residents’ parking scheme within either of these
areas. Instead, we recommend that Moulsecoomb continue to be identified as a ‘monitored parking zone’ with the retention of the current advisory ‘residents parking only’ signs for use on match-days, and that a similar scheme be extended to cover Coldean as part of the current application. This would allow the
effects of the remedial measures outlined above to be fully assessed and, should inappropriate parking continue to be taking place, then consultation on the implantation of a permanent residents’ parking scheme can be pursued at that time.
We do, however, acknowledge that the highway authority’s view is that the applicant should be required to fund a DfT ‘light touch’ match-day residents’ parking scheme to be implemented, subject to public consultation, at the start of the 2012/13 season.We would reiterate our view that it would be prudent for spectator traffic to be monitored during the 2012/13 season following the implementation of the remedial measures, and request that the Council consider this. However, in the event that the Council continue to consider it necessary to consult on the implementation of a match-day residents’ parking scheme, we would request that the Council provide details of likely costs associated with a scheme for this specific nature."
