Following several petitions and a 'large number of complaints' from residents and businesses in Ascot, Sunninghill and Sunningdale, the Royal Borough is 'delaying the changes for at least a year'
Click on http://petitions.rbwm.gov.uk/sunningscarparks/ to see the petition against levying more charges (scrapping 2 free hours) for the car park on Queen's Road in Sunninghill and also changes at the A 30 Sunningdale Shoppers Car Park.
There was fury and disbelief amongst traders and shoppers in Sunninghill village, over the scrapping of the two free hours in the Queens Road Car Park (pictured below) from April 4th.
As shown in the photo, the new parking tariff would have meant that parkers would have had to pay(50p with an RBWM Advantage Card) instead. Beyond the two hours, charges would remain the same .
The two free hours system was originally a hard- won tariff, designed to increase the turnover in at least part of the car park - ideal for the many, many Sunninghill visitors who are popping in to buy a pint of milk, a bottle of wine, collect framed pictures, dry cleaning, household ironmongery, children from St.Michael's and so on. There was widespread consensus in the High Street this morning that, hassling people to find or arrange payment for parking, is very likely to result in them not bothering to stop in Sunninghill at all. There is also real concern that the existing problems associated with school collection time will be exacerbated, as parents seek out free parking in the residential streets.
A very well-known and respected estate agent commented that 'this would kill the village'. The unanimous feeling was incredulity that the Borough intends to impose any disincentive to village visitors, with margins for the High Street shops already tight. Two hours free parking is thought to be essential for encouraging people to enjoy haircuts, lunch and a browse of the gift shops and dress agencies. The current charges were always intended to deter all - day parking and never to make money out of shoppers parking.
There was further disbelief that, in such a sensitive area, the measure has been implemented (new machine already in place), without any consultation with traders or even the Parish Council.
Charges were also proposed for the Sunningdale A 30 car park and the Ascot High Street car park- where traders are already very seriously concerned about lack of easy parking.
For more information about the petition here on Ascot Matters - see Queens Road Car Park /A 30 Petition. The Sunninghill & Ascot Parish Council Annual Assemble is to be held tonight and several angry traders are expected to attend. SEE DETAILS .
Parking in and around Sunninghill is already a problem. One shopper recently commented that even kerbside parking in Truss Hill Road (see photograph below) is often full from 10am and spreading down St.Mary's Hill. And there is often a parking shortage at school collection time.
The village has also suffered from the serious delays caused by the new Bagshot/Devenish Road roundabout construction and gas main replacement. One trader said that the parking charges were the 'last straw', 'seriously flawed decision-making' and 'completely unacceptable'
Several concerned traders attended the March 22nd Sunninghill and Ascot Annual Parish Meeting.