Adding extra decks to Wycombe District Council’s car parks in a bid to address chronic parking problems in the area has been rejected again after the idea was suggested as part of a major overhaul.

In a bid to tackle the growing problem of parking – or lack of it – in the district, a special task group was set to up to see what improvements could be made and they came up with 16 recommendations to Wycombe District Council’s cabinet.

These included adding extra levels to all surface car parks in a bid to increase the number of spaces for shoppers, new barriers and payment systems at the Handy Cross park and ride and refurbishing all town centre car parks.

Of the 16 recommendations, six were fully accepted, seven partially and three were rejected completely – which Cllr Lesley Clarke, who headed up the task group, said was a “shame”.

READ MORE: 

At Monday night’s cabinet meeting, Cllr Clarke said there was a number of ideas that the district council should put in place before it is abolished – along with the other districts and county council – in favour of a unitary council.

This includes putting new payment equipment and barriers in the park and ride to stop people parking there for free and not getting on the bus.

But Cllr Julia Adey said the new barriers are currently in the process of being sorted out and could well be in place before April 2020 when the council ceases to exist.

Cabinet accepted that the park and ride should remain free until March 2020 and agreed to investigate potential breaches in planning permission for supermarkets which have increased their free parking from two to three hours.

They partially accepted that some town centre car parks need to be refurbished - saying Easton Street is “at the end of its design life” and needs “substantial investment” - but said the future of this car park needs to be considered as part of wider regeneration plans for the area next to the railway station.

“Substantial” maintenance is also being planned for the Wycombe Swan.

The full list of recommendations and what cabinet decided: 

  • That there be an agreed parking strategy - accepted
  • That funding be provided for consultancy work to survey the usage of the park and ride - partially accepted 
  • That 4 buses be provided for the park and ride rather than 3 as suggested by Bucks County Council - not accepted, it is a matter for BCC
  • Ensure the park and ride remains free for people parking and then using the bus - accepted 
  • That new barriers and payment system for the car park at the park and ride be put in place ASAP - accepted 
  • Improved signage and info at the park and ride about payment and tickets for users of the bus service - accepted
  • Funding for a report to be commissioned to provide data on the anticipated parking demand across the district - partially accepted, will be discussed by unitary
  • Investigate use of new tech to help assess usage of car parks - partially accepted, will be an issue for the new unitary
  • That dynamic parking management apps be used to help those such as residents or Blue Badge holders to enable charging to be applied accordingly - partially accepted, will be an issue for the new unitary
  • Electronic signs in High Wycombe providing real-time information on parking availability for all major car parks - partially accepted, bids will need to be made in future financial years
  • On-street parking permits should be limited for new build homes and there should be greater control of pavement and grass verge parking - not accepted, it would be a matter for the planning department  
  • All surface car parks be stacked for extra capacity - not accepted because extra decks/ramps take up a lot of space
  • Funding be provided to stack the park and ride car park - partially accepted, bids will need to be made in future financial years
  • Town centre car parks are refurbished - partially accepted, some works planned
  • Co-ordinated parking strategy to be created to work with partners like Chiltern Railways and Eden Shopping Centre - accepted 
  • Look at parking at supermarkets and see if they have increased their free parking hours in breach of planning permission - accepted