BRISTOL CITY COUNCIL PROPOSED RESIDENTIAL PARKING SCHEME PLANS FOR CLIFTON VILLAGE

SURVEY FEEDBACK PREPARED BY BID CLIFTON VILLAGE

BID Clifton Village

The Library

Joseph King House

3a Boyces Avenue

Clifton

Bristol BS8 4AA

INDEX

Item / Detail / Page
1 / BID Clifton Village / 2
2 / Clifton Village / 2
3 / Consultation / 2
4 / Survey / 2
5 / Feedback / 3
6 / Suggestions / 7
7 / Moving Forward / 11
8 / Appendices / 12
  1. BID Clifton Village

BID CV is a business improvement district initiative which came into place in November 2012 following a 66% majority vote from businesses voting. Funds are secured from the 317 businesses in the Village in order to enhance trading opportunities and economic output in the area.

  1. Clifton Village

With over 300 businesses at the heart of its community Clifton is very different to other areas where RPS schemes are in place or being designated. Clifton is a vibrant area of the city with a unique blend of retail, commercial, educational, religious and leisure outlets,all within close proximity and all contributing to the economic output of the area and that of Bristol.

As such a bespoke parking scheme is required in order to find a solution that works for this diverse mix of businesses alongside the needs of the residents.

  1. Consultation

We understand plans for the proposed parking scheme were due to be issued at the end of August however their actual date of issue was the 9 September2013.

We have recently been informed that Bristol City Council are to complete a survey of the cars parked in the Village in October to provide further information on the duration of stay in order to maximise parking turnover. For the many retail and leisure outlets this information is key to understanding the impact of the proposed parking scheme on footfall to the Village and ultimately their livelihoods.

How can businesses make informed comments about a proposal when such fundamental details are missing? BID Clifton Village therefore asked for a delay to the end of the consultation phase and to date we are awaiting a response to this request.

Businesses are concerned over the quality of research completed particularly given the outcome of recent changes on Boyces Avenue - the decision was made to partially block Boyces Avenue during daytime trading hours. This has resulted in many businesses significantly losing turnover and an ill conceived flow of transport – one pedestrian has already been knocked by a turning vehicle in this area.

  1. Survey

In order to understand the impact of the proposed scheme on businesses in the area BID Clifton Village has undertaken a survey with the businesses to hear their thoughts. A copy of the survey can be found in Appendix 1.

Areas of consideration included:

1 / Permit Entitlement / Costs
Numbers
Hours and Days
2 / Pay and Display / Costs
Numbers
Hours and Days
3 / Impact on Business / Staff
Trade
4 / Alternatives / Car parking
Improved transport links

In order to get a taste of how visitors, shoppers and residents feel their opinion has also been sought and a flavour of their thoughts have been included in the feedback.

  1. Feedback

31% of businesses responded to the survey.

A resounding 100% of businesses responding disagree with implementation of the proposed RPS plan across Clifton Village in its current format.

Given the diverse mix of businesses and differing requirements in Clifton Village there is a broad range of thoughts and comments. Where there is strength of opinion these are included in the main body of this report. A schedule detailing the range of comments is included in Appendix 2 in order to provide an overview of the concerns raised.

5.1Permit Entitlement

5.1.1Costs

  • 99% responded that the cost of business permits are too high, particularly in comparison with the cost of residents permits (over 4 times as much in Clifton), see below.
  • Businesses commenting do not feel there are significant additional benefits accrued to business permits when compared to residents permits – Residents have the opportunity to secure 3 permits which can each be allocated to 2 vehicles/registration plates, residents also have the opportunity to secure up to 120 visitor passes.
  • Taking these benefits into consideration the difference in the flexibility and use of resident and business permits is smaller than the price differential suggests and the price should reflect the small difference.
  • Many small independent businesses in Clifton do not receive small business relief for rates and are not therefore able to receive this relief on the business permit costs.
  • Requests are made that the first business permit falls in line with the first permit cost for residents; it is currently 5 times higher.

5.1.2Comparisons in Bristol

* **

5.1.3Comparisons in the UK

  • Research indicates that business permits in other areas of the country are lower Birmingham £150, Newcastle £92 and Portsmouth £107.50
  • Please see Newcastle details below which indicate lower costs and a higher numbers of permits available for businesses:

* **

5.1.4Numbers

  • 97% believe there will be an issue with the small number of business permits available for businesses across Clifton.
  • 91% responded that the number of business permits is too low for their business (the fact that this % was not higher is probably due to the number of small independent businesses for whom 2 permits is sufficient).
  • Businesses commenting felt the number of permits should be linked to the sq footage or rateable value of buildings.
  • Businesses requiring attendance at meetings across the City found this format unworkable and long term parking bays were requested.

5.1.5 Hours and Days

  • The original hours were 9am -5pm on Monday to Friday. The revised proposal states 9am to 7pm on Monday to Saturday.
  • The response is generally more relaxed on the start time with a desire to finish 1 or 2 hours earlier. Some businesses have a preference to start at 8am and finish at 6pm and others wish for 9am to 5pm.
  • For restaurants there is stronger feedback due to the potential impact on their early evening trade due to a later end to the parking restrictions.
  • Hotels and other businesses that hold events such as conferences, weddings and promotions are concerned about the ability for large numbers of guests, clients, and visitors to park in the Village for these events, a reduction on Saturday restrictions will help.
  • Several businesses believe Monday to Friday is a good idea rather than Monday to Saturday.
  • Given that change to the current parking arrangements has been driven by staff from businesses in the centre of Bristol using Clifton as a car park and, with commercial offices not working over a weekend it was felt the request to exclude Saturday from the proposed RPS plans was reasonable.

5.2Pay and Display

5.2.1 Costs

  • 71% have an issue with the costs. They feel there should be free parking for an hour and not half an hour. If there has to be a cost feedback indicates that the cost at £1 an hour thereafter is generally acceptable (given the first hour is free).

5.2.2 Numbers

  • Every business responding thinks the number of pay and display bays for visitors and clients and shoppers are dangerously low across Clifton Village.
  • Having looked into this and walked the streets feedback indicates that there is 35% less opportunity in the key retail streets of Clifton Village for visitors, clients and shoppers due to the reduced parking meterage available and the longer turn-around time.
  • The overwhelming opinion across all the businesses is that unless this is increased significantly there will be a negative impact on footfall to the Village.
  • For many independent traders there is not enough local trade to be successful and the lack of external trade to the Village will have an unthinkable impact on their bottom line. Some indicated that a reduction in external footfall will force them to close.
  • Many businesses are close to areas which are proposed to include a high number of, or all, residential parking bays. Currently these are key areas in which their clients, customers, visitors and patients park e.g. West Mall, Caledonia Place, Victoria Square, Regent Street, PV Street, Canynge Road, The Promenade, Clifton Green...

5.2.3Hours and Days

  • Ditto permit discussion above (1.3)
  • Retailers and commercial businesses in the heart of the Village are concerned about the length of stay in the pay and display bays i.e. the maximum hours and the free period.
  • Some businesses believe the 3 hour limit is too long restricting turn-around and others believe it is too short.
  • Many ask for a longer free period to enable clients and customers to drop off papers, pick up orders or make a quick purchase, thereby enabling a continuous flow and turn-around of visitors. Given the difficulty in coming to a conclusion more research regarding current activity is required. If this is not possible the best compromise is to increase the free time to 1 hour and leave the maximum total time to 3 hours.

5.3Impact on Businesses

5.3.1100% of businesses responding think implementation of the proposed RPS plans will have a negative impact on businesses across Clifton Village. 97% think it will have a negative impact upon their own business.

5.3.2Staff

  • This is considered a major issue across a large number of businesses. It is felt by everyone responding that access to the Village for staff and visitors should have been researched and addressed ahead of the draft RPS proposal being presented.
  • There are many large businesses in Clifton Village employing 50+ members of staff.
  • BCC officers have outlined the various options available to employees and residents and discussed the investment in bus, cycling and rail options that has been made in recent years. The Council offer free travel planning advice to business and staff re car sharing, cycling and improving office facilities such as showers etc.
  • The businesses are grateful for this offer of help but in many cases it is not practical.
  • For many staff who live out of the area the current bus system or riding a bike to work is not an option. Many employers, particularly the larger employing businesses, are expecting staff issues as a result of the RPS proposal.
  • A few of the larger businesses indicate that without a solution to this staffing issue they will look to leave the area. The knock on effect to local trade is unthinkable.
  • Alternative forms of transport into the Village need to be found to resolve this issue

5.3.3Trade

  • The impact of the proposed RPS plan is seen by all businesses to have a detrimental effect across business in Clifton. The consensus of opinion across all sectors is that it will suppress trade in an already fragile economic environment.
  • Single yellow lines becoming double yellow lines and or disappearing in other areas will create an issue for businesses that, as part of their work, deliver and receive goods on a regular basis e.g. if single yellow lines are removed on Waterloo Street businesses have indicate they will be forced to park in the middle of the road in order to load and unload goods which will block traffic in this road several times a day.
  • Single yellow lines also offer an opportunity for disabled people to park.
  • Feedback previously directed to Bristol City Council indicates the benefits of yellow lines/loading bays, certainly at specific times of the day e.g. mornings
  • RPS will make it difficult to come to Clifton Village and quickly people will stop. It will result in the closure of many of the businesses in Clifton Village. The streets however will be empty of cars very quickly; the shops and businesses will also be empty!
  • When questioned visitors, shoppers and clients of businesses in Clifton said they required more and NOT less parking opportunities in the Village. They said they would not walk from the car park on the Triangle to the Village, if they parked there they would shop on the Triangle!
  • Residents said that whilst they wanted improved parking for their families they do not want the businesses in Clifton Village to suffer unnecessarily as a result of RPS. They will be devastated if an RPS plan meant the closure of shops and businesses in the Village due to lack of trade. For many residents the vibrant atmosphere of the cafes, restaurants, offices and retail outlets is one of the major reasons they live in Clifton Village.
  • Clifton Village is made up of a broad mix of businesses and independent traders which is part of its appeal. Any negative effect on footfall into the Village or on the ability for staff to complete their work through less parking spaces, will clearly have a major impact upon this attractive and eclectic mix of businesses, the majority of which are independents. To ensure these remain, it is imperative that any RPS programme enables businesses to continue to trade effectively.

5.4Alternatives

5.4.1Survey feedback considers access to alternative forms of transport ahead of any RPS proposal being implemented is a priority for staff and potential visitors to Clifton.

5.4.2Car parking

  • Clifton Village does not have a car park and whilst staff can be encouraged to walk from the car park on the Triangle this is not an effective option throughout the year – e.g. female employees walking alone in the dark (4pm in the autumn/winter). Similarly the car park at Sainsburys on Whiteladies Road will not be an option when the RPS plans are rolled out into Clifton East.
  • Visitors to the area have said they will simply not walk the distance from these car parks to Clifton Village, they will chose to shop elsewhere.
  • Why is Bristol City Council awarding planning for new developments without easy access parking for a number of vehicles each time e.g. Moorpoint development on Clifton Down?
  • In the long term a car park needs to be built in Clifton – ideally under the Downs to ensure ample parking is available. Monaco is an example that this is possible in rock!

5.4.3Improved transport links

  • Clifton is too expensive for many independent traders and staff to live, the need to travel into work is therefore commonplace.
  • Bus
  • The bus service to Clifton Village runs north to south, it is the 8/9 bus from the centre of town which according to feedback is generally considered to be erratic.
  • We are advised that no improved bus service or additional service has been considered ahead of presenting the proposed RPS.
  • Train
  • Provisions on trains and links need to be improved e.g. one employee travelling by train and then bike to work mentioned that the local commuter train they use only takes 2 bikes which means they have on occasion been left without a bike to travel home on!
  • It is essential that bus and train services are improved to help commuters and visitors to and from the Village.
  • Park and Ride
  • We are advised that no Park and Ride service is to be supplied ahead of RPS being implemented. The supply of such a service is to be driven by demand.
  • The most common suggestion for alternative transport links into the Village is for a transport link to local park and ride schemes at Long Ashton and Shirehampton.
  • Waiting 6 months for market forces to dictate a demand for better transport services or more pay and display bays is not an option for businesses in Clifton.
  • Given the difficult economic climate, a lack of visitors and footfall to the Village will mean many of the independent businesses will, through the lack of trade, be forced out of business before the 6 months are up. It will also mean many employers will suffer employment issues due to staff looking to base themselves with companies where there is an easier commute to their place of employment.
  1. Suggestions

1 / Permits
i / Lack of business permits
Larger businesses are concerned about the lack of business permits available to them which will have an impact on them working effectively
CHANGE the number of business permits available and bring the number in line with: the rateable value; sq footage; number of staff; and/or, the type of business
ii / Cost of business permits
All businesses believe the costs of business permits should be brought in line with residential permit costs and/or costs in other parts of Bristol or the UK
REDUCE the business permit costs in line with residential costs or in line with business rates elsewhere
REVIEW small business relief across Bristol to enable small independent businesses in Clifton to take advantage of this clause (as anticipated by Bristol City Council) and/or
REDUCE the first permit cost in line with residential costs
iii / Hours of operation
The original hours were 9am to 5pm on Monday to Friday. The revised proposal is for 9am to 7pm Monday to Saturday. Businesses prefer the original proposal but are equally happy to change the hours to 6pm
CHANGE the hours and days to 9am to 6pm Monday to Friday
2 / Pay and Display
i / Hours and days
DITTO hours and days as above
ii / Number of pay and display bays
All businesses are concerned about the low number of pay and display bays. They believe the knock on reduction in clients, shoppers and visitors to the Village which will have a direct and detrimental impact on their ability to trade
INCREASE the number of pay and display bays close to the heart of the retail and business community
iii / Pay and Display available period of stay
Retailers and commercial businesses in the heart of the Village are concerned about the length of stay in the pay and display bays i.e. the maximum hours and the free period as well as the ability to encourage a quick turn-around in the flow of traffic
COMPLETE further research and/or
INCREASE the free element to 1 hour and leave the maximum at 3 hours
iv / Pay and Display rates
If there has to be a cost feedback indicates that the costs at £1 an hour is generally fair given the first hour is free
CHARGE £1 an hour with the first hour free
3 / Impact on business
i / Impact on Staff
a / Ability to get to work