Neglect may mean

we pay more to park

We’ve never thought much about car parks, but it seems that they bring blessings and curses in equal measure.
A council report has been taking a closer look at these swathes of tarmac and concludes that many of them need improving – and hints that the cost of parking may well increase.
Once again, it seems that Boston Borough Council has set jobs aside for so long that they have gone from being tasks that might easily have been completed to major chores that are going to cost quite a lot of money.
Boston has 2,900 car parking spaces, of which more than 1,700 – or 60% - are owned by the council – which the report seems to feel gives the borough “considerable influence” over management of parking provision. There are also are about 500 on street parking spaces and 886 supermarket parking spaces.
We’re not so sure about how much “influence” this gives the council..
The relatively new wasteland car park in West Street which charges £3 a day seems to be doing well enough, and it wouldn’t take many more other operators to set their prices similarly before the council found itself in something of a fix financially. Not only does this car park undercut Boston’s maximum day rate by 50p, but it offers a 50p charge for a 30 minute stay – a convenient charge for a convenient time if you just need to pop into a shop or two or go to the bank.
Car parks net £750,000 a year for the council.
The report warns: “In order to protect this income the council must ensure that its car parks are maintained to a standard that ensures that they are fit for purpose. Following a period where minimum maintenance has been carried out there is an important issue to address around continuing repair and maintenance needs. The cost for repairs and maintenance might have to be met from income raised from parking and price policy will need to be considered and set with this in mind.”
Only six of the council’s 28 car parks are deemed to be in good condition, with a similar number considered “poor.”
The bill for getting them up to snuff is almost £400,000, and given the poor state of the borough’s coffers is would seem that an increase in charges to raise some of the cash will be needed.
The report recognises that some car parks are small and under-used and could be sold off – either to increase capacity or create new parking areas.
There is also the issue of Civil Parking Enforcement which has been introduced by Lincolnshire County Council and will see tickets issued by the council rather than the police. The county council has already looked at the possibility of an £80 fixed penalty fine – which would be £10 more than the government’s recommended maximum and the highest in the country.
The report says that the borough must work closely with the county to ensure that the “benefits” associated with CPE are fully realised in Boston – “i.e. better parking enforcement, possible increased parking income, improved street environment, potential to introduce residential parking zones.”
A strange interpretation of the word “benefits” if you’re a motorist.
It sounds nothing more than a list of charges that will cost us all a lot more – including paying for the privilege of parking outside your own house.

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