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Issue - meetings

Car Parking Strategy

 

 

Meeting: 20/11/2025 - Cabinet (Item 160)

160 Car Parking Strategy 2025-2028 pdf icon PDF 554 KB

Purpose:

To present Cotswold District Council’s Parking Strategy for 2025–2028 which outlines the approach to managing and delivering off-street parking services over the next three years. It is designed to meet user needs while supporting the Council’s strategic objectives through to 2028.

 

Recommendation(s):

That Cabinet resolves to:

  1. Approve and adopt the Cotswold District Council Car Parking Strategy 2025 -2028 at Annex A.
  2. Approve and adopt the Car Parking Action Plan in Annex A of the strategy.
  3. Instruct Officers to draft and consult on a variation to the Parking Order and subject to responses make the variation in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Health, Culture and Visitor Experience to change stay time restrictions in Rissington Road Car Park to support residents and meet demand. And approve the costs of £2,000 for the necessary changes.
  4. Delegate authority to Publica Executive Director of Corporate Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Health, Culture and Visitor Experience to consider consultation feedback on the variations to the Parking Order and decide whether to make the variation to the Order in whole or to abandon the proposal and to agree any further minor amendments to the parking order.
  5. Note the additional capital budget (£40,000) identified in this report to upgrade and replace existing parking machines with modern technology.
  6. Approve the introduction of a tourism levy inMaugersbury Road car park Stow-on-the-Wold to generate funds specifically dedicated to dealing with the impact of tourism on the town subject to the statutory parking order process.

Additional documents:

Decision:

The purpose of the report was to present Cotswold District Council’s Parking Strategy for 2025–2028 which outlined the approach to managing and delivering off-street parking services to 2028.

 

Councillor  Paul Hodgkinson, Cabinet Member for Health, Culture and Visitor Experience  introduced the report and highlighted that the purpose of the strategy was to deliver a positive parking experience for residents, visitors, and businesses, supporting the local economy, contributing to sustainability, and preparing for future changes to local government in Gloucestershire, while supporting the Council’s strategic objectives through to 2028.

 

The recommendations were proposed by Councillor Paul Hodgkinson and seconded by Councillor Andrea Pellegram.

 

Resolved that Cabinet:

  1. Approved and adopted the Cotswold District Council Car Parking Strategy 2025 -2028 at Annex A.
  2. Approved and adopted the Car Parking Action Plan in Annex A of the strategy.
  3. Instructed Officers to draft and consult on a variation to the Parking Order and subject to responses make the variation in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Health, Culture and Visitor Experience to change stay time restrictions in Rissington Road Car Park to support residents and meet demand. And approve the costs of £2,000 for the necessary changes.
  4. Delegated authority to Publica Executive Director of Corporate Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Health, Culture and Visitor Experience to consider consultation feedback on the variations to the Parking Order and decide whether to make the variation to the Order in whole or to abandon the proposal and to agree any further minor amendments to the parking order.
  5. Noted the additional capital budget (£40,000) identified in the report to upgrade and replace existing parking machines with modern technology.
  6. Approved the introduction of a tourism levy inMaugersbury Road car park Stow-on-the-Wold to generate funds specifically dedicated to dealing with the impact of tourism on the town subject to the statutory parking order process.

 

Voting Record:

7 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstentions.

Minutes:

The purpose of the report was to present Cotswold District Council’s Parking Strategy for 2025–2028 which outlined the approach to managing and delivering off-street parking services to 2028.

 

Councillor  Paul Hodgkinson, Cabinet Member for Health, Culture and Visitor Experience  introduced the report and highlighted that the purpose of the strategy was to deliver a positive parking experience for residents, visitors, and businesses, supporting the local economy, contributing to sustainability, and preparing for future changes in local government governance in Gloucestershire, while supporting the Council’s strategic objectives through to 2028.

 

It was reported that the Council managed 20 off-street car parks with 2,279 spaces and 24 electric vehicle charging points, noting that despite support for active travel, many residents relied on cars due to the district’s rural nature. It was noted that the strategy was based on extensive data analysis of usage and stay times, as well as a community consultation, surveys, and meetings with parishes, towns, businesses, lobby groups, and residents.

 

Four themes were focussed on: understanding parking needs, understanding customer needs, preparing for future demand, and setting out options and actions. Feedback on on-street parking had also been recorded but would be passed to Gloucestershire County Council, as it fell under their responsibility.

 

It was explained that, given the expected local government reorganisation and the Council’s anticipated end in May 2028, the plan prioritised tactical actions for the next two and a half years. These included reviewing stay times and turnover to ensure suitable short- and long-stay provision, with a specific proposal for Bourton-on-the-Water involving free parking for residents before 10.00 am by shifting charging hours from 8:00 am–6:00 pm,  to 10:00 am–8:00 pm.

 

Further priorities were highlighted: installing new payment machines, supported by a £40,000 budget; expanding electric vehicle charging infrastructure where feasible; introducing a tourist levy in the Maugersbury Road car park in Stow-on-the-Wold, following the successful model in Bourton-on-the-Water; and continuing engagement with town and parish councils to support local parking initiatives.

 

Cabinet Members noted and praised the report, highlighting the extensive consultation with residents and town and parish councils and the collaborative approach taken by the team. They congratulated the Cabinet Member and the team on their work, specifically citing initiatives such as the introduction of two hours of free parking in Bourton, the rollout of 24 EV charging points across multiple towns and villages including Tetbury, Bourton-on-the-Water, and Stow-on-the-Wold, and the tourism levy, which had been informed by public consultation and voting. They highlighted that the Bourton tourism levy, generating approximately £65,000 annually, had been used to refurbish the village green, improve block paving, fund the village warden, and support additional parking enforcement, helping the community manage the impacts of volume tourism.

 

Cabinet Members recognised the challenges of over-tourism, particularly during peak seasons and extreme weather, and emphasised the importance of strategies to support local villages and maintain access to services. They welcomed the consideration of neighbourhood plans in shaping local parking and tourism strategies, and highlighted the funding and financial planning achievements,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 160

 

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