Car Parking - Winchester Town Access Plan

The overall strategy for parking in the town needs to reflect the vision we are working towards, and look to deliver elements of that vision. We need to establish within this plan, a balanced parking strategy that reflects the economic aspirations of the town, as well as keeping in check the environmental problems that unfettered car access can cause in the historic core of the city.

So, what does this mean?

In simple terms, it could mean the retention of a limited number of short stay spaces in the town with premium prices associated with the convenience of such a provision. This is balanced by the supply of sufficient parking and park and ride spaces on the periphery to provide not just facilities for the commuters, but to provide an excellent level of service for all visitors and shoppers.

Car parking management and incentives are a key mechanism in controlling and encouraging changes in travel behaviour. The price and availability of parking spaces is a key factor affecting whether or not people use a car for a certain journey. Therefore policies that affect car parking can be directly related to the volume of traffic in and around the city. The City Council already controls and manages significant amounts of parking in the city and therefore is in a position to affect travel demands and subsequently Air Quality by the use of its parking policies.

Within the category of car parking a range of issues and potential actions have been identified.

Car parking charging strategy

The charging strategy can play an important role in determining how and which car parks are used and for what purpose. The current regime of 'charging' for on and off street spaces is designed to encourage long term visitors to use the 'outer' car parks and the Park and Ride service, whilst the spaces in the town, which are more likely to be used for short stay visits, have a higher price premium attached.

Off-street car parking

The provision of public off-street car parking and its location are major factors in terms of influencing travel behaviour and people's choices in terms of where they choose to shop or visit. The location and popularity of some car parks can create undue pressures on the town centre environment.

Park and Ride

Park & Ride was a cornerstone of the first Winchester Movement and Access Plan. It still allows the flexibility of car use for our journeys, without placing undue pressure on the historic city core and the Air Qualilty Management Area (AQMA). The first park and ride sites were opened in 1994, with a significant extension opened in 2004. Now a maximum of 785 spaces are available at the Bar End sites in close proximity to Junction 10 of the M3

It is hoped to extend the park and ride service by providing a new site to the South of Winchester. We are currently assessing how the two services can be run and how they will best serve the needs of the users.

Whilst accepted as an important part of an Integrated Transport Strategy, to be most effective, Park & Ride schemes should be complemented by measures such as reductions in town centre parking, bus priority measures or pedestrianisation.

On-Street residental parking schemes

Our residents on-street parking schemes have helped reduce the amount of commuter parking and protected this parking solely for the use of residents . However, there is now anecdotal evidence of the abuse of this system, and is suggested that some permits are being used to facilitate all day parking, especially in areas around the rail station. It is Council policy that on-street residents parking schemes should be 'cost-neutral' in that the operational costs are met by the revenue received.

Coach Parking

The current coach parking facility is located off Worthy Lane, to the north west of the town centre. This location is not ideal as it requires coaches to circulate the one way system to get to and from the coach park from the 'drop-off' point in the Broadway. Many visitors and coaches come to Winchester on a daily basis and it is hoped that WTAP may be able to improve these facilities.