Nestrans Regional Parking Strategy NETCF 31 st October 2011

2. Nestrans Regional Parking Strategy NETCF 31st October 2011

3. Regional Parking Strategy • Aim: To agree a policy framework under which actions can be delivered at a local level to ensure parking supports the wider objectives of the RTS. • The way in which parking is managed impacts significantly on the performance of other services, particularly public transport and the performance of the local economy in general.

4. How is car parking dealt with currently? • Aberdeen City Council is responsible for: • Maintenance and management of all on-street parking, as well as a number of off-street car parks, including length of stay and charging restrictions; • Over 5,000 off-street car parking spaces in Aberdeen City Centre • Over 3,500 of these are commercially operated car parks and out with the Councils control e.g. Union Square and Loch Street • Enforcement of controlled parking zones and administration of resident, visitor and business parking permits. • Provision of park and ride facilities at Kingswells and Bridge of Don • Setting parking standards for new developments based on a zone system which considers proximity to the city centre.

5. How is car parking dealt with currently? • Aberdeenshire Council is responsible for: • Maintenance and management of 109 car parks with some 4,000 spaces; • Just over 1,100 spaces are pay & display and the remainder are free; • On-street parking spaces are restricted by time only and are not pay & display; • Parking permits are offered to residents who live within defined zones; • Enforcement of on-street parking is the responsibility of the Police, not the local authority; • Provision of park and ride facilities at Ellon. • Setting parking standards for new developments.

6. Similarities, differences and interdependencies between the two areas • Both aim to ensure reasonable availability of off-street and on-street parking for short and long term demand; • Both aim to encourage faster turnover of spaces in city centre and town centre locations to enable access for shoppers and customers throughout the day and longer stay parking at out of centre locations; • Aberdeen City suffers from issues of congestion and air quality to a far greater degree than areas in Aberdeenshire • Parking policy in the city affects city and shire residents alike with a large proportion of Aberdeenshire residents travelling into the city for employment and leisure. • Availability of free private non-residential parking at workplaces; • Availability of public transport as an alternative to car travel is much greater in the city than in Aberdeenshire • Parking infrastructure maintenance and renewal

8. Contributory issues Private non-residential parking Approx 46,000 PNR spaces in the city region almost all providing free parking Cost of parking Can be a barrier to mode shift if parking is too cheap or bus fares deemed too expensive Business permits Enable long stay parking in short stay spaces Parking and loading restrictions Enforcement Other key issues to consider

9. Park and Ride Impact of city centre parking policy on the success of park and ride New developments Maximum parking standards Parking infrastructure Maintenance and replacement of pay & display machines Cycle parking Other key issues to consider

10. Regional Parking Strategy - Draft Objectives • To support the economic vitality of the city and town centres and the wider objectives of the Regional Transport Strategy through a balanced approach to the management of car parking. • To support and influence increases in the proportion of journeys undertaken by sustainable modes, particularly by bus and rail.

11. Questions: • Do you agree with the issues identified and draft objectives? • How can Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire use the provision, management and control of parking to meet the two proposed objectives? • Thinking about what is already done, what could be done differently or better? • What policies and actions should be included in the ‘Toolbox’ of the Regional Parking Strategy?