The BID recently met with City Council Councillors and Officers to discuss car parking in Winchester. The BID provided WCC with the feedback they had received from BID members, which had left many frustrated and angry over the festive period. The BID informed WCC that the provisions provided in 2014 did not meet the expectations of the city in 2015 and thus with Chesil Street Surface car park now closed and a further 58 spaces likely to go at Upper Brook Street, a new strategy is desperately needed for the future – both at Christmas and in general for the city. The Council will shortly be announcing plans for their mid-term review of the Winchester District Car Parking Strategy, which the BID will be responding to and lobbying for more spaces within the city centre – we will circulate details when they are published.
Both the BID and WCC agreed to review what could be implemented for Christmas this year, which included utilising business car parking spaces at weekends for employees working in the city centre, to free up parking spaces for customers and visitors. If your business is closed at the weekend and you would be pleased to offer your spaces up to city centre workers, please get in touch with Catherine Turness.
In related news, the BID were pleased to hear Hampshire County Council have been successful in obtaining funding to commence a traffic study later this year. The scope and objectives are to be agreed and we have asked to be able to input our thoughts and suggestions. We’ll keep you posted.
