Bridport News

Lyme Regis: Cabanya car parking charges to remain the same

10:30am Friday 27th January 2012

CAR parking charges in Lyme Regis’ Town Council’s Cabanya car park will remain as they are after a bid by Mayor Sally Holman to get them in line with district charges failed.

Coun Holman wanted to see the car park charges ending at 6pm as the district council-operated Monmouth Beach car park does, and not charge up to 9pm as they are now.

Coun Holman said: “It does seem a bit ridiculous that you have these different parking charges that are out of step and are not to our real advantage.

“All I am suggesting is that they come into line.”

The issue was raised at the operational management sub committee.

Coun Lucy Campbell said she had concerns about what the budget implication might be of losing three hours of parking charges over a year.

She said she could see in principle it would make sense to charge the same.

“But the problem is we have set the budget and we are expecting an income from that car park,” she said.

Coun Anita Williams pointed out that if the council were to mirror West Dorset District Council’s charges it would mean introducing a £2 minimum charge.

Coun Michaela Ellis said it was ridiculous to make any changes until the council had decided whether or not it was going to take back the running of the district’s car park.

Coun Holman said she wanted the changes because she had heard people discussing the ‘greed’ of the town council when people could park for free in the evenings at the district car park.

She said there were two things to consider – falling revenue and encouraging visitors to come to the town in the evenings and spend money.

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