Number of changes to parking in North East Lincolnshire approved by Cabinet

Cabinet members last night (Wednesday 9 March) approved changes to the council’s car parking strategy for North East Lincolnshire.

The review includes various changes to selected car parks such as a change to operational hours, limited stays, and cashless parking via phone or mobile app.

Recommendations which were approved by Cabinet members for the council to adopt include:

• Maintaining all day parking at St Peter’s Avenue, Wardall Street, Market Hall Roof and Cartergate. Informal consultation undertaken in 2019 did not favour the introduction of a four-hour maximum stay at these car parks.
• Introducing a four-hour maximum stay at Cleethorpes Leisure Centre car park. Informal consultation completed in 2020 was supportive of this. Lincs Inspire members struggle to park during peak periods.

• Introduction of ‘cashless’ parking as an additional option for payment (pay by phone, web or mobile app). Coin payments will remain.
• Adopt the phasing out of existing business parking permits in Cleethorpes, transitioning to a season ticket, at the cost of £450. This equates to around £8.65 per week for a seven-day, all-year-round pass. Existing business permit holders will be able to benefit from a phased approach and pay just £225 for their first year of renewal after the changes are implemented.

• Introduction of a maximum four-hour stay for vehicles parked within Electric Vehicle (EV) only parking bays. Previously, EVs were not included in the order and non-EVs were sometimes parking up in these allocated bays all day. The inclusion of EV bays will allow enforcement to take place if they are being misused for all day free parking or by non-EV vehicles. This supports the council’s Carbon Roadmap and offers a way to manage additional EV bays moving forward.
• Amendment to operational hours at Thrunscoe Land Car Park in Cleethorpes. To be closed from 7pm in winter months and from 10pm during summer months. This will be kept under review.
• Market Hall Roof Car Park to be closed on Sundays, except by notice.
• Inclusion into the legal order to allow a reactive introduction of free periods of parking, which would only be enacted with portfolio holder environment and transport approval, and with a statutory 21-day notification period.

It was agreed that a review of car park revenue is undertaken in conjunction with the review of all tariffs and permit prices on an annual basis, commencing with immediate effect.

Councillor Stewart Swinburn, portfolio holder for environment and transport, said: “People in North East Lincolnshire have benefitted from lower pricing of parking in certain areas since 2012 when tariffs were last reviewed. It is worth noting that car parking tariffs in Cleethorpes fall below the current rate of other resorts such as Scarborough and Skegness. The council must also take into account that inflation is currently running at five per cent, which has increased operational costs. Please be assured that any money made via parking revenues is reinvested into the borough’s car parks.”

He added: “In line with these rising costs, and looking at our neighbouring coastal resorts, the decision has been made to create a new approach which will be available to businesses in Cleethorpes. This will see the phasing out of a business permit – which is outdated and refers back to historical agreements dating back to before 2010 – to a season ticket, which can be purchased for a chosen car park in the main resort.

“To honour our existing business permit holders in Cleethorpes, a phased approach will be implemented to allow businesses to pay a reduced rate in the first year of the changes, before transitioning to the full price of a season ticket.

“If people do not wish to purchase a season ticket, the council and EQUANS can assist with a travel plan and look at alternative arrangements.”

No decision has yet been made regarding car parking tariff changes in Cleethorpes, but authority will fall to the portfolio holder for environment and transport who will receive information and recommendations from officers on specific car parking areas in the resort.

Other items under review and requiring further consultation and development include:

• Marine Walk Car Park in Cleethorpes – to consult on the potential introduction of maximum stay and overnight access restrictions.
• Potential introduction of two-hour free parking restrictions at Church Lane car park, Humberston
• Potential introduction of two-hour free parking restrictions at Waltham Road car park, Scartho
• A review of HGV parking strategy and charging
• A review of motorcycle parking