Agenda and minutes

The Chairman welcomed Mrs Elizabeth Rae to her first meeting of the Group and introductions were made.

Consider note of meeting held on 12 February 2020.  (Copy attached.)

There had been circulated copies of the Note of the Meeting held on 12 February 2020 and this was approved.

Consider issues both real and perceived.

3.1     The Chairman advised that it was important to identify the issues and ascertain those which were real.  Mr Maudsley tabled a paper which contained the views of some members of the Community Council and he would continue to gather responses from the other members.  Members discussed the various car parks and it was agreed that as the Edinburgh Road Car Park had the highest level of usage at an average of 90% this was where action was most needed.

3.2     The points raised during the discussion included:-

·                The standardisation of parking charges

·                The importance of not discouraging park and ride

·                Achieving a good turnover of spaces

·                Improved car park signage

·                Avoiding a complex system which would result in user confusion

·                Increasing the cost of the current £25 annual permit (this was a Borders wide charge)

·                Asking the CAT Team to look at parking problems on the High Street

·                Better user education

·                To be aware of unintended consequences resulting in parking issues being pushed into other areas

3.3     Ms Gilhooly commented on car parking charges.  These could be standardised across the whole town or a specific car park could be identified for long stay use and charged at a lower rate.  Members needed to consider whether their intended outcome was more revenue or more turnover.  The possibility of making the Edinburgh Road Car Park a “gateway”” car park for visitors could allow a slightly higher charge to be levied.  The Chairman advised that while on-street parking was outwith the remit of the Group a copy of the report on this matter which had already been considered by Council would be circulated to Group Members for information.

(Copy historical information attached.)

A number of documents relating to previous car parking studies in Peebles had been circulated for information and these were noted.

Consider scope for any survey work.

The Chairman proposed that an updated survey be carried out in the Edinburgh Road Car Park and also a survey of the Kingsmeadows Car Park usage be undertaken.  This work would be funded from the Peebles Parking Income budget.  Ms Gilhooly suggested that the same questions as were asked in 2013 be used again to give a meaningful comparison and that Streetwise, who had carried out the previous survey, be employed again.  Streetwise could also assist in providing a brief for the work as officers currently had no capacity to assist.  The Chairman asked Mrs Rae to obtain the views of Traders.

The Chairman advised that an update on the work of the Group would be given at the next meeting of the Tweeddale Area Partnership.  The next meeting of the Group on 29 April 2020 would consider the brief for the survey work.  

The Chairman advised he would contact the Tweed Valley BID regarding their representation on the Group.