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MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL
RECORD OF DECISION OF THE CABINET MEMBER FOR PLANNING, INFRASTRUCTURE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Decision Made: 9 November 2023
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Consideration of works to amalgamate and extend Medway Street Car Park
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Issue for Decision
To consider the proposal to extend and carry out refurbishment and improvement works to Medway street car park, Maidstone.
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Decision Made
That 1.
The funding
works to amalgamate and extend the car park at an estimated total budget of
£177,500, be approved; and 2. An additional £20,000 (if external funding in whole or part is not available) for provision of a secure green bike store, be agreed.
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Reasons for Decision
The Borough Council own both the public pay and display car park, located at Medway Street and the adjacent car park (currently not within the car parking order). Although adjacent, there are significant differences in the site levels.
There are significant level differences between the sites.
To amalgamate the sites a vehicular ramp would need to be constructed. The
extension area currently has a surface that is below the standard expected
and required to be used as a public car park, both areas would require resurfacing
and relining as part of the proposed works. To comply and make the car park
an attractive offer to park, a low-level lighting scheme would need to be
installed. In addition to these works, it would be prudent to carry out some
repairs and improvements to the site boundaries, install additional pay and
display metres and new signage. Should this proposal proceed, on safety
grounds the existing access onto the High Street would require “stopping up”
and a bollard or barrier installed. Assuming the initial site surveys show that the amalgamation
of the sites is indeed possible, quotes have been received for the full
works, which include -creation of a ramp, boundary repair and renewal,
resurface, reline, installation of lighting, installation of additional pay
and display machines, installation of bike racks (secure) new signage,
stopping up of access to High Street. The cost of stage 2 is quoted as
£160,000; this is on the assumption that the preceding survey works do
not result in additional works being required to the site. An example of this
would be upgrades or repairs to drainage systems that run beneath the site,
or relocation of services. To further the Councils carbon neutral agenda, there is an opportunity to provide a green roof bike store. It is hoped that this work could be funded from external grants or operators, however if the Council were to fully fund this element an additional £20,000 should be allowed for.
The final stage of works is to bring the car park in its
entirety to be within the car parking order, which is a legal requirement for
the Council to be able to treat and use as a public car park. The cost of
stage 3 is estimated to be £3,000. There are some existing rights for third parties to park and enjoy access over the site, however it is felt that these existing rights can be accommodated within the proposals and will not frustrate the project.
A further consideration to cost will be the annual costs
for the required additional pay and display machines (software licences,
annual maintenance, electricity and back-office work) Estimated at £3,000
pa. Therefore, subject to detailed
design, it is believed that this project will on completion provide a minimum
of 73 spaces in total. Local Ward Members have also been consulted on the proposal. The matter was considered by the Planning Infrastructure and Economic Development Policy Advisory Committee on 8 November 2023 with the following recommendation made:
RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO THE CABINET MEMBER: That
1. The
funding works to amalgamate and extend the car park at an estimated total
budget of £177, 500 be agreed; and 2. An additional £20,000 for provision of green bike store and electric car sharing scheme points (if not externally funded in whole or part), be agreed.
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Alternatives considered and why rejected
1. To carry out minor improvement works to the additional land – surface and boundaries – estimated cost £40,000. To hopefully attract through marketing, a private tenant to utilise the site for their own parking need. The site has previously been let on agreement to local businesses for staff parking, however the tenant bought the agreement to an end as they no longer required the facility. 2. That the proposed project is not taken forward, and secure the site against unauthorised use and activity, for reconsideration when there is a clear demand for additional town centre car parking. These options were rejected in order to carry out the required works to the car park and increase the number of car parking spaces available in the town centre. The electric car sharing scheme was rejected at this time as there was currently no evidence of the demand for the scheme, but this would not prejudice the scheme being introduced in the future.
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Background Papers
None.
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I have read and approved the above decision for the reasons (including possible alternative options rejected) as set out above.
Signed:____________ Councillor Paul Cooper, Cabinet Member for Planning, Infrastructure and Economic Development
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Full details of both the report for the decision taken above and any consideration by the relevant Policy Advisory Committee can be found at the following area of the website
Call-In: Should you be concerned about this decision and wish to call it in, please submit a call-in form signed by any three Members to the Proper Officer by: 5pm on Thursday 16 November 2023. |