Issue - meetings

Report of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director

Further to Minute No. 86 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member - Technical Services held on 18 November 2009, the Cabinet considered the report of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director on proposals for the suspension until further notice of Kew Park and Ride Service within the terms of the contract with the bus operator and the requirements of the Traffic Commissioner; for the site to be 'mothballed' but ongoing security and base maintenance be retained; and the parking demand in Southport be monitored with a view to re-opening the site as soon as the economic situation permitted.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)       the Kew Park and Ride Service be temporarily suspended, the site be 'mothballed', and the bus contract be amended to maintain services at Esplanade/Fairways;

(2)       the demand for parking to support tourism and retail activity in the town continue to be monitored, with a view to reopening the Kew Park and Ride Service as soon as possible;

(3)       during the closure, part of the Kew Park and Ride Site be made available if required as a Pay and Display Car Park to support initiatives within developing travel plans for commercial operations in the area;

(4)       a full review of access arrangements and advance signage for the Kew Park and Ride Site be undertaken, including the provision of signs within West Lancashire, and a scheme considered within the Local Transport Plan Capital Programme to be completed before reopening; and

(5)       the assistance of the Park and Ride Bus Operator and Merseytravel be acknowledged in the delivery of revised Park and Ride Services for Southport.

Report of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director

The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director on the Southport Park and Ride Services – Temporary Closure of Kew Park and Ride indicating that due to poor economic conditions nationally and poor weather during 2008 and 2009, the scheme income had achieved £500,000 lower than budgeted for; that whilst a plan had been put in place to reduce the impact and to enable service developments to be undertaken, a return to pre-recession parking levels had not materialised; that  a significant level of central town parking had migrated to outer areas; and that annual growth in Park and Ride patronage experienced since 2000, had reduced.  The Cabinet Member was requested to seek approval from Cabinet for the suspension until further notice of Kew Park and Ride Service within the terms of the contract with the bus operator and the requirements of the Traffic Commissioner; for the site to be ‘mothballed’ but ongoing security and base maintenance be retained; and the parking demand in Southport be monitored with a view to re-opening the site as soon as the economic situation permitted.

Cllr Sumner attended the meeting to express his concern regarding the issue of ‘mothballing’ the Kew Park and Ride  car park and requested that the matter be temporarily deferred for further consideration of other measures to ensure the continued operation of the park and ride scheme either on a weekday or weekend basis.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet be recommended to:

(1)               temporarily suspend the Kew Park and Ride Service, the car park be ‘mothballed’, and the bus contract be amended to maintain services at Espalande/Fairways;

(2)               continue to monitor the demand for parking to support tourism and retail activity in the town with a view to reopening the Kew Park and Ride Services as soon as possible;

(3)               make available during the closure, part of the Kew Park and Ride Car Park, if required, as a Pay and Display Car Park to support initiatives with developing travel plans for commercial operations in the area;

(4)               authorise the undertaking of a full review of access arrangements; advance signage for the Kew Park and Ride Car Park and one-off promotions/events in the area - including the provision of signs with West Lancashire, Sefton PCT and MerseyTravel, and the scheme be considered within the Local Transport Plan Capital Programme, to be completed before reopening; and

(5)               acknowledging the assistance of the Park and Ride Operator and Merseytravel in the delivery of revised Park and Ride Services for Southport.