Herefordshire Council is considering introducing on-street parking charges on a number of additional streets in Hereford City Centre and the surrounding areas.
According to documents shared by Herefordshire Council, the additional streets that could see on-street parking charges are:
Canal Road*
Cantilupe Street*
Commercial Road*
Coningsby Street*
Mill Street*
St Martins Street*
St Martins Avenue*
Stonebow Road
*proposed “Zone 2 On Street Parking”
Documents shared by Herefordshire Council explain the reasoning behind this:
“In order to improve the sustainable transport initiatives in and around Hereford, the Hereford City Masterplan (currently at draft phase) seeks to improve sustainable transport within the city by promoting active travel and removing traffic from the most central parts of the city.
“All of these strategy documents therefore suggest that introducing on street charging to roads within Hereford’s central core and its surrounding streets is a key factor in achieving some of the Council’s strategic sustainable transport goals.
“In 2016 parking charges were introduced to all of the streets within the central core, and in order to manage the cumulative displacement that has occurred, it is therefore appropriate to introduce on street parking charges to locations on the periphery of Hereford’s central core to dissuade visitor parking and promote active travel in these locations. The charges will also encourage the use of strategic off street parking facilities rather than drivers passing by these in search of free street parking.
“As a result, peripheral locations were selected where technical surveys were commissioned to assess parking availability and use. These surveys focused on locations where parking is currently free (time) limited or dual limited waiting & residents permit parking, all within walking distance to the central core.
“The abundance of this free parking around the core centre in Hereford is problematic as drivers seek out free parking and often travel across the city unnecessarily to locate a space contributing to vehicle movements.”
Press Release from Herefordshire Council:
“Following a decision taken by Full Council on 10 February, Herefordshire Council will apply an inflationary increase to its parking charges from April this year.
“Residents and businesses will also be asked for their views about on street parking in roads that surround the historic centre of Hereford.
“The new parking charges will take effect from Monday 3 April 2023 where a 20p per hour increase will be applied to all zone 1 and 2 car parks in the county. Charges at zone 3 car parks, however, will be frozen so that it becomes increasingly more cost effective for drivers that are able to, to park further away from our central areas.
“The review of on street parking is in line with the Local Transport Plan (LTP), approved in 2016, which sets out the council’s strategic objectives for parking. This includes managing the supply and pricing of parking to encourage the use of active and sustainable travel choices, and supporting our long-term growth proposals in Hereford through the delivery of longer-term parking provision, such as Park and Choose, and to rationalise and reduce the supply of commuter parking in the centre of the city.
Cllr John Harrington, Cabinet Member Infrastructure and Transport, said: “We need to be proactive when setting our parking charges as we are faced with inflationary pressures on the costs of the parking services and those services which parking income is used to support, such as public transport. I am pleased that we are once again able to freeze the prices in our outer zone 3 car parks so that those that use them daily will not be affected by this small increase.”
“We understand that there will be some local concern that the introduction of parking charges to free parking areas will mean that the city centre footfall will reduce as a result, but in fact, better management of parking facilities leads to reduced congestion, improved air quality and road safety, promotes the local economy and ensures good accessibility.
“Professional surveys undertaken in the identified locations have recorded an average of 541 parking events between 30 minutes and 2 hours each day, excluding residents with permits. An estimated 40% displacement into off street parking or other travel means would see nearly 70,000 parking trips displaced from our city streets annually, improving space availability for businesses and residents, creating more turnover and helping our visitors.
“We are keen to hear the views of residents and businesses in the streets where these proposals will apply. Letters will be sent to affected properties, along with Ward Councillors and other stakeholders, in the coming weeks so they can get in touch directly as part of the process.”
