Council announces plan for South Norfolk website survey on car parking

Residents from across South Norfolk are being given a chance to respond to a council survey on car parking and parking charges.

The survey will be published on the council’s website and the results will inform the council’s car parking strategy.

The announcement of plans for a survey comes as Councillors prepare to attend a public meeting on the issue of car parking in Harleston.

They have already attended separate meetings at Redenhall with Harleston Town Council, and Loddon Parish Council to discuss the same issue.

Councillor Jon Herbert, South Norfolk Cabinet Member for Commercial Services who will be at the public meeting with Council Leader John Fuller, wants to ensure a wide consultation on car parking.

He said:

"Everyone expects a better quality of car parking. That means for example, no pot holes and good lighting for better security. Unfortunately, that costs money, and it has to be paid for. This survey is about who pays.

"The reality is that everyone pays for the upkeep of the car parks in South Norfolk through their council tax, and so everyone should have a say on the issue of charging.

"This is not just a question for the people of Harleston and Loddon - it is much bigger than that. It is an issue for the people of South Norfolk. “

The web survey will ask people what they want their car parks to be like, how often they use them and why. It asks whether people expect to pay for car parking when they visit places like Norwich, their local town centre, the hospital or local leisure facilities, like the cinema.

It then asks for views on those car parks where charges are in force, and on those which are free.

The survey closes on 31 December 2007. The results will form part of the decision making process on car parking strategy, which is expected to be debated at the council in February next year.

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