Chance for motorists to have their say in Stowmarket car park review
Whether in car parks, outside homes on residential streets, or on the high street, few subjects evoke as much passion as parking. Now Mid Suffolk District Council hopes feedback from car park users will help find the balance between supporting the town centre, relieving pressures for residents and supporting more sustainable travel options to and from Stowmarket.
Motorists parking in the town’s council-owned car parks in Bury Street, Iliffe Way, Ipswich Street, the Meadow Centre, Milton Road, Union Street and Union Street West are being invited to complete an online survey at www.midsuffolk.gov.uk/car-park-survey which will run for seven weeks from today (Monday 23 June) to Sunday 10 August.
The survey asks car park users why they have chosen a particular car park, how often they use it, how far they have travelled, the duration and purpose of their visit, for example, for work, shopping, leisure etc.
Feedback will help the council to establish where improvements may be possible in order to support town centre businesses, residents and visitors, and to better understand demand for different types of parking.
The survey builds on action already taken by Mid Suffolk District Council to try to tackle parking pressures in the town – even in areas where they are not directly responsible, for example public transport and on-street parking.
Last October saw the launch of the Mid Suffolk Tax Bus and a Rural Connect community bus service, funded through a £600k investment by Mid Suffolk District Council – designed for residents wanting to travel to and from Stowmarket from surrounding villages.
Then, in February this year, Mid Suffolk District Council agreed to provide funding of £25.6k to Suffolk County Council, so they could take the next steps in developing a possible residents’ parking zone, covering several streets around the town centre.
Cllr Teresa Davis, cabinet member for thriving communities said:
“People feel incredibly strongly about parking. As a district council we do not have direct control over on-street parking or the strategic provision of public transport, yet we know that these are things that make an impact to people’s quality of life in and around our district’s main market town.
“That’s why Mid Suffolk District Council put money aside for rural community transport; it’s why we are providing the funding to Suffolk County Council to progress proposals for a residents’ parking zone; and why we need to ensure our car parks are a good useable space with the right balance of short-stay parking provision for shoppers and visitors alongside long-stay parking for residents and workers.”
“As a smaller and more local council than our county council we have the ability to really listen, and all feedback will be an important part of the review of the council’s car park provision for Stowmarket later this year.”
“I encourage all users of the car parks to let us know what they need as honestly as possible, so that any changes that come from this form part of the whole picture for Stowmarket and the people that live, visit and work in the town.”
Anyone using the council’s car parks during the survey period but who are unable to complete the survey online can contact the council’s customer services team instead on 0300 123 4000 or pop in to the nearby customer access point on Ipswich Street during opening hours.
