Southend Central Area Action Plan (SCAAP) - Revised Proposed Submission 2016

Object

Representation ID: 2806

Received: 13/12/2016

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

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

page 41
I object 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. I 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 parking report and surveys have underestimated the parking stock, particularly in the central area to the south of railway, and thus has 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 its 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.

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.

Object

Representation ID: 2808

Received: 13/12/2016

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

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? Not specified

NOT POSITIVELY PREPARED
It is essential that the Transport Access and Public realm section recognises the need for tourists to be able to access the town and seafront by car. A survey carried out by Stockvale and the Seafront Traders Association has identified that 85% of tourists (out of 1500 surveyed) come by car.
The implementation of the points listed under CS1.c, f and g will be at the cost of the car. Bus lanes etc will increase journey times into the SCAAP area by car and result in more congestion. This will deter tourists from visiting Southend and result in cars turning around and going elsewhere as the roads are so congested.
The policies under section 2 are not sufficient to deal with the current or future demand for car spaces, particularly to the south.
The CPS and Local Transport Plan3 highlight the council's estimated 25% increase in demand for parking spaces in the SCAAP area in the next 4 years. The SCAAP and the measures above do nothing to address this extra demand that will arise.
On busy days, warm sunny days, there is a massive shortage of parking spaces and congestion results as cars are continually circulating looking for spaces. Visitors vow not to return as it can take hours to enter the town and get parked. Traffic jams back up along the A 127 and many cars turn around and go elsewhere.
This means on warm sunny days the seafront has reached it's maximium capacity as no more visitors can get here by car. As a result investment by businesses will stop. Visitors often cancel bookings as they can't get into the town. Visitors opt to visit other resorts and use out of town shopping centres such as Lakeside and Bluewater.
The policies do not meet the development needs of businesses on the seafront and the infrastructure will be insufficient to meet future growth in demand. The CPS recognises that there are already problems in the south on peak days but does nothing to deal with this.

Object

Representation ID: 2809

Received: 13/12/2016

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

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? Not specified

CONSISTENT WITH NATIONAL POLICY
The NPPF is clear that policies should contribute to building a strong responsive and competitive economy. The provision of infrastructure is vital to this and the plan should proactively meet the development demands of business. This plan will deter from economic growth as it does not allow for the growth in visitor numbers by car.
The government recognises that different policies and measures will be required in different communities and different opportunities to maximise sustainable transport solutions will vary.
The sustainable transport policies identified in the SCAAP will make journey by car to the central area much longer and much harder to navigate and thus will cause economic harm to the local economy. Residents lives will also suffer due to increased congestion and pollution.