Surveys to collect up-to-date and in-depth information about both on and off-street car parking in Bingham town centre are underway and residents can now have their say.
All can give their thoughts at www.rushcliffe.gov.uk/binghamparking until November 29.
The survey focuses on which parts of the town and surrounding areas visitors arrive from, the purpose and frequency of their visits, their mode of transport, length of stay and usual locations to park.
It also seeks answers on what would encourage using alternative transport methods to their own personal vehicles.
Three day-long additional in-person surveys with car park users began on November 8 with local businesses being contacted directly for their thoughts.
It follows Bingham Car Parking Strategy Group meeting last month to discuss action on car parking in the town with representatives from Rushcliffe Borough Council (RBC), Bingham Town Council (BTC) and Nottinghamshire County Council.
RBC and BTC initially funded the surveys earlier this year, planned as part of the long stay parking project and the Strategy Group extended its scope to three days to further listen to car park users’ views.
The Group will use the survey responses to inform exploring short and long-term solutions and guide future discussions at meetings that will also centre on active travel and the role that cycling, walking and public transport could play to complement any changes.
The data will also feed into the development of a business case for a possible long stay car park site.
Group members include RBC’s Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Environment and Safety Cllr Rob Inglis, Ward Members for Bingham, Mayor Cllr Rowan Bird from BTC and RBC Leader and Nottinghamshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment Cllr Neil Clarke.
Cllr Clarke said: “Surveys are now underway and we invite residents and motorists to have their say.
“I am pleased that the Strategy Group have been able to build on the work of RBC and BTC’s partnership working on the long stay car park to move the surveys forward.
“The surveys will be important for providing data to consider changes that could be made within the existing town centre car parks to improve capacity.
“It will also feed into the development of a business case for a possible long stay car park.
“We will continue to regularly meet as a group and assess other short-term solutions which could become longer-term solutions if successful.”
RBC responded to BTC’s request last year for wider support for their car parking project which commenced with a £25,000 grant and officer assistance, just part of the work completed since the partnership was formed.
Cllr Inglis added: “These next steps with the survey are a good start to gain a further insight into the town’s parking situation.
“It will give us a platform to further prepare a parking strategy for Bingham in conjunction with the County’s transport and highway strategy that will include on street car parking.”
Cllr Bird, Mayor of Bingham Town Council added: “This is positive work and builds on the work earlier this year by the respective councils to allocate funding for the surveys that will not only assist with the long stay car park project but will now also provide further insight and inform decision making on town centre parking.
“Listening to people’s views is vital and will inform better discussions where parking and active travel provision can be improved.”
