Object

Representation ID: 2814

Received: 13/12/2016

Respondent: Southend Seafront Traders Association

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? Not specified

JUSTIFIED
Paragraph 130 page 41
The Traders Association objects to the use of the Car Parking Study (CPS) commissioned by Southend Council and undertaken by Steer Davies Gleave as part of the evidence base for the
SCAAP. The study has been used to form the Parking Management Techniques adopted within the SCAAP.
We believe the Study is flawed for reasons set out below and will result in an inefficient transport network in and around the SCAAP area, with a severe shortage of parking capacity to the south resulting in heavy congestion at busy periods.
The Association has worked in conjunction with Stockvale Ltd and RPS planning in assessing the accuracy and reliability of the CPS. RPS have evaluated the CPS and their report has been submitted as part of Stockvale Ltd's representation. The Traders association fully support the findings of this report. The parking report and surveys have underestimated the parking capacity, particularly in the central area to the south of railway, and thus have underestimated the demand for spaces from visitors to the seafront. The surveys have been predominantly focused on the High Street and on bad weather days thus the parking situation & demand to the south of the railway line has been misrepresented.
The southern area has been identified as the area which experiences the greatest pressure on it parking supply. The report relies on over 99% of data from the VMS system which is inaccurate and
unreliable. Therefore the report is flawed and thus the related policies within the SCAAP are flawed.
Page 5 paragraph 2.1 of the CPS identifies the increased future estimated growth in demand for
parking within the scaap area in the Southend Local Transport Plan 3 by 2021, stating:
"The Southend 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. 11
Although this is stated early in the CPS, no further policies have been suggested to increase the parking capacity to meet this forecast demand. 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 tourist attractions, high levels of car parking are necessary. The tourist industry in Southend 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 the viability of the businesses throughout the remainder of the year, which has a significant knock-on effect in terms of jobs and the local economy.
There are many days where there is spare capacity in the parking network however these spaces
are vital as they fill up rapidly on busiest days. Figures from the council's car park department show the annual revenue per space in the Seafront car parks is higher than elsewhere in the town.
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."
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
Please see attached time stamped photos taken on seafront on 4 of the dates above
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 a 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 underestimates the total car parking supply for tourists and visitors within the Southend Central Area and also (by not counting cars parked here) underestimates 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. Policy CS1
The scaap document has very little meaningful substance in terms or a strategic approach to tourism within the central area. The document fails to understand the drivers behind tourism and the attractions, facilities and infrastructure that is needed to grow tourism within the scaap area. The
dpd in effect neglects the day visitor to the area for a desire to attract longer stay visitors. It is important to try to encourage visitors to stay for longer but this should not be at the expense of the
vast amount of day visitors which form the bulk of the industry's customer base.