XN000022-1972-03-08 — Page 2

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Wednesday, March 8, 1972

parking spaces.

Present charges do not achieve the policy objective of always

maintaining a few parking spaces empty. The present excess of demand for parking

spaces over supply also means that motorists make an abortive search to find

parking spaces which itself adds to the congestion on the roads.

Charges for spaces in Government multi-storey car parks have remained

unchanged for six years, the spokesman said, and the alternative uses to which

land given over to vehicle parking could be put would bring in a far higher

rental than the return now received from car parking fees. "So the motorists

are getting a bargain, the undercharging for parking amounting to a subsidy

to those motorists enjoying the facility," he added.

Basic Objection

Another basic objection to the present situation was that somebody

prepared to pay for a parking space in the down-town area was not permitted to

do so.

Raising the charges would discourage some would-be parkers and make

the facilities available for those who were prepared to pay.

At present there are six Government multi-storey car parks providing

3,600 parking spaces, one is under construction and a number of others are

planned. In addition, there are two government open air car parks with about

900 parking spaces.

As regards on-street parking, there are 18,000 free on-street parking

spaces, 3,000 free spaces for goods vehicles, and 7,000 metered spaces.

The Financial Secretary, when he presented his Budget on March 1, said

that more meters were on order, and the aim would be progressively to extend

meter charging to all parts of the urban areas where on-street parking could be

permitted, to extend the hours of operation, and to charge the appropriate rate

in each area according to demand.

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