Object

Representation ID: 2807

Received: 13/12/2016

Respondent: Pebble One, Subway, Baskin Robbins, Maple House

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? Not specified

Page 5 of the CPS recognises the increased future demand for parking predicted in the Southend Local Transport Plan 3 by 2021, stating:
"The Southend Local Transport Plan 3 (L TP3): Strategy Document outlines key considerations related to Central Area parking provision. It notes that Central Area car parking demand is forecast to grow by 25% by 2021." Although this context is set out very early in the CPS, no further account appears to be taken of it in the analysis. Thus, the predicted increased future demand for parking of 25% is not accounted for within the strategy. Paragraph 2.1 goes on to say:
"The Southend Local Transport Plan 3 (L TP3): Strategy Document outlines key considerations related to Central Area parking provision. It notes that Central Area car parking demand is forecast to grow by 25% by 2021."
Although this context is set out very early in the CPS, no further account appears to be taken of it in the analysis. Thus, the predicted increased future demand for parking of 25% is not accounted for within the strategy.
Paragraph 2.1 goes on to say: The document notes that Southend Central Area has a high level of car parking, which can encourage people to drive to the Central Area rather than using other more sustainable modes."
For some land uses, this can be the case, however, for tourist attractions, high levels of car parking are necessary. The tourist industry relies upon the busiest days of the year to subsidise other periods of the year when they are not busy. The car parking demand for these busy periods therefore must be met to maximise their customer attraction. If this is not met, then it jeopardises their viability throughout the remainder of the year, which has a significant knock-on effect in terms of jobs and the local economy.
Therefore, there will be some days that are not busy where there appears to be high levels of car parking availability, however, in reality, these spaces are necessary. In this regard, paragraph 2.1 recognises this by stating: "The L TP highlights a seasonal shortfall of parking capacity in certain car parks in summer and in December."
The CPS therefore recognises at a very early stage that there is a seasonal shortfall of parking capacity in some car parks and that there is a predicted 25% increase in future demand for parking. Despite this, the CPS makes no further reference to this. Table 3.2 page 16 of survey report shows weather conditions on the survey days. These are incorrect and differ to the weather recorded at the time by traders:
13 August 2015 Rain & Thunderstorms
15 August 2015 Cloudy, Brightening up late afternoon
23 March 2016 Cloudy, Av temp 7c (90% seafront closed)
25 March 2016 Partly Cloudy, Av temp 11c
26 March 2016 Cloud & Rain, Av temp 1 Oc (storm Katie weekend)
30 May 2016 Mostly Cloudy, Av temp 14c
No parking surveys done on a warm sunny day - ie in good weather
Thus surveys do not show how parking capacity in central area performs in good weather conditions, which obviously are the peak times. This report greatly influences the transport/parking section of SCAAP and thus it is flawed.
Page 8 Table 2.2 and page 9 table 2.4 shows the off street and on street car parking used in the report. However significant amounts of car parking spaces have not been included and some have not been identified. Table 2.3 page 8 identifies some car parks not included but gives no explanation as to why. The Marine Plaza car park is a major car park on the seafront with 200 spaces that has not been identified? (planning permission granted 26th Oct 2000 ref 00/00765FUL)
Not including this car park is considered to underestimate the total car parking stock for tourists and visitors within the Southend Central Area and also (by not counting cars parked here) underestimate the total car parking demand created by tourists and visitors within the Southend Central Area. Similarly this has the effect of over stating the percentage figure on any day for spare capacity.