Agenda item

Report of the Corporate Director (Resources, Environment and Cultural Services) on the Hatfield Parking Project, which has been added to the Capital Work Programme, to seek planning approval for the construction of a multi-storey car park (MSCP) in the Common, Hatfield.  This will release other sites within the town centre which have been highlighted as development opportunities by the multi-agency Visioning Group as part of the Hatfield 2030+ project.

Report of the Corporate Director (Resources, Environment and Cultural Services) on the Hatfield Parking Project.  The Officer explained the background and advised that the Council had added a project to the Capital Work Programme, to seek planning approval for the construction of a multi-storey car park (MSCP) in The Common, Hatfield.  This would release other sites within the town centre which have been highlighted as development opportunities by the multi-agency Visioning Group as part of the Hatfield 2030+ project.

The sites, which have been highlighted for development are mainly surface car parks and the creation of the MSCP would enable these to be developed.  To minimise displacement during construction, a temporary upper deck would be installed at Lemsford Road car park, which would provide up to 100 of the 148 parking spaces that would be lost from The Common car park.

The report noted that the consultation had begun with residents in the three areas surrounding the town centre with the view of introducing restrictions in time for the construction to start on the MSCP.  This report set out the results of the initial consultation and provided recommendations on how to proceed. 

Consultation still needed to take place with the businesses in the town centre, as the car parks situated in the town centre would need to amend the current restrictions, before the construction of the MSCP begins in The Common. This car park being the main short stay car park for visitors to the town centre. 

Members commented on the low number of responses received in respect of the consultation compared to consultation carried out in other parts of the Borough. The reason for this is not known but there are more transitional residents in these areas of Hatfield and English may not be their first language.

The following points were raised and discussed:

·         Aldykes area – returned the most completed forms with 30% and an Officer has been out to monitor the parking situation.

·         French Horn Lane area – Members were advised that only 20% response was received.  It was noted that some of area was part of the industrial area and some classed as private land.

·         Lemsford Road area – Members were advised that only 26% response was received.  It was noted that some of area was part of the industrial area and some classed as private land.

·         All area will be investigated to see if additional parking provision, if possible. Any possible locations may need to go through a number of approval process dependent on whether the land is Council or Public Highway.

·         In all three areas, the majority of responses from those residents which completed and returned their forms favoured the resident parking permit scheme.

·         Officer explained that there were a number historical issues which were being investigated around some of the areas noted within the report.

            RESOLVED

1             That the Panel recommend to Cabinet to proceed with progressing resident parking schemes and verge protection orders to the formal stage in the Lemsford Road area.

2             That the Panel recommend to Cabinet to proceed with progressing resident parking schemes and verge protection orders to the formal stage in the French Horn Lane area.

3             That the Panel recommend to Cabinet to proceed with progressing resident parking schemes and verge protection orders to the formal stage in the Aldykes area.

4             That the Panel note the risks as indicated in sections 6.1 – 6.3 of the report and recommend to Cabinet to proceed with the recommendation outlined in 1 – 3 above.