To receive any public questions, statements or petitions submitted in accordance with the Constitution. Further information on the requirements for submitting these is available to view at the following link:-
https://democracy.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/ieListMeetings.aspx?CommitteeID=151&Info=1&bcr=1
The deadline for the submission of public questions is 12 noon, 3 clear working days before the meeting.
The deadline for the submission of a statement is midday the working day before the meeting.
The deadline for the submission of a petition is 10 working days before the meeting.
Minutes:
Cabinet was advised that there had been no petitions submitted but that three questions and one statement had been received by members of the public, all relating to Agenda Item 11 (South Part of Beach Road Car Park).
Public Question received from Peter Schroeder, Chairman of the Branksome Park, Canford Cliffs Residents Association
In what way does the Council think that reducing available parking by the planned sell-off, will improve either the quality of life or the economic well-being of the residents of Poole?
Response by the Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Dynamic Places
Thank you for your question which relates to the loss of parking and the associated impact on quality of life. this car park has been underused for many years and even in the peak summer months people avoid using this car park and instead choose to park on residential roads or in illegal and dangerous places.
The previous Borough of Poole established that it was not good value for money to retain this car park and agreed its sale and not good value for the taxpayers of Poole and now BCP, and that it would be better served in reallocating part of this site and creating new homes here instead.
The sale of part of the site will also allow the remaining car park to be modernised so that the spaces are suitable for use by those who need it and the assessment shows that the overall change in the number of spaces will be adequate to meet the needs.
We are separately looking at the issues faced by residents on local roads like Lakeside Road who are negatively impacted by thoughtless drivers blocking their access, behaving in an unruly manner late at night and we believe that supporting their calls for on street parking measures will improve their quality of life.
The economic value of new homes paying council tax and spending money in the local economy will more that outweigh the relatively low income from the car parking as is demonstrated in the report which you will hear about later. Furthermore the building of new homes will generate developer contributions that will support community infrastructure and affordable housing for the wider area.
Public Question received from Roy Pointer
The sale of the south portion of the Beach Road car park identifies the need for a business case for the upgrade/retention of the remainder. This business case could fail if considered in isolation. Can the Council assure residents that the potential for the WHOLE site be considered and appraised as one project linking the case for the part sale with the upgrade of the remainder thereby avoiding the latter being unviable due to tha sale of the former?
Response by the Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Dynamic Places
The business case for delivery of improvements to the rear car park is being expedited. Funding will be met through PWLB (Public Works Loan Board) borrowings and access arrangements will be resolved prior to the completion of any sale. There is therefore no need to link the two projects. Expediting a sale, will ensure an early capital receipt for the council, which in turn will help our efforts to fund the council's transformation programme and improvements to the parking area including better signage to ensure drivers can locate it therefore ensuring that the new car park has better usage.
Public Question received from John Sprackling
The Report at para 11 identifies the potential need for more on street metred parking in order to support parking needs due to the reduced size of the car park.
The high cost of meter installation is unlikely to be recouped by charges since drivers simply park in other roads leading to both local opposition and low meter usage.
Is the Council aware that there was significant opposition to extend on road parking at a public meeting in 2016 which was attended by the current Director of Infrastructure in his former role of Head of Transportation and that opposition is unlikely to change should more on road parking be contemplated as any part of this project?
Response by the Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Dynamic Places, Councillor Vikki Slade
The business case for the rear car park will address the need, if any, for additional on-street pay and display in nearby roads and the latter would, of course, require further public consultation, with all feedback given full consideration. I have been lobbied very heavily over at least a year by local residents who are welcoming on-street parking meters and have been campaigning themselves to have restrictions in their roads. We would not rely on information gathered 8 years ago to test the feelings of those most directly affected and negatively impacted by thoughtless parking.
Elsewhere, evidence suggests that the cost of installing metered or other restricted parking such as residents zones would be recouped within about two years.
Public Statement received from Vicky Moss
No more developments are needed in this area. There are blocks of apartments in the area close to the beach with over 25% second homes and used for only 4 weeks of the year. These developments are underutilised. BH13 has the largest proportion of second homes in BCP with 13% of dwellings used as second homes and empty much of the year.
Since the arrival of Rockwater at Branksome Beach there has been an influx of visitors and the carparking is frequently inadequate. I see cars regularly turning away because Beach Road Car Park is shut, this is currently loosing the council revenue.
There is frequent flooding within 100m of this site at the entrance to Branksome Beach Car park and drainage is a major issue along the length of Branksome Chine.
PLEASE preserve Beach Road Carpark for public use as a Carpark. Don’t more people have the right to a day at the beach?