Car park budget short by half a million pounds

9:44am Thursday 25th November 2004

By Kerry McQueeney

A shortfall of more than half a million pounds in Croydon's parking revenue has been blamed on fed-up motorists boycotting the town's expensive car parks.

While cash-strapped Croydon Council maintains business is still booming, opposition councillors believe the authority's hefty parking hikes in recent years have driven shoppers to other towns.

The council says the shortfall of more than £580,000 in its budget projections since April could be for a variety of reasons, including more people using public transport and the new Centrale car park offering lower parking rates.

However, Councillor Tim Pollard, shadow cabinet member for economic development and corporate service, said: "Back in July it was revealed there had been a shortfall of £245,000 in parking services since April and since then there has been a further shortfall of £343,000.

"It is convenient to say the opening of Centrale's car park may be a significant contributor to this but it is also quite likely that parking pricing structure in Croydon has driven motorists elsewhere.

"When I speak to my constituents about their experiences in visiting the town centre they all seem to say the same thing that they feel they are getting fleeced.

"I've lost count of the people who have told me they prefer to shop in places like Kingston, Bromley and Bluewater.

"The council should not be banking on money from parking services to fill a hole in the budget, particularly with its financial situation."

Yesterday (Tuesday) motorists in Croydon's car parks spoke to the Guardian about their views on parking standards in the town centre.

Joe Hayward said: "I don't think it's much to do with the car parks themselves, but the fact that people prefer to go to places like Lakeside to go shopping."

Aman Sharma said: "I just can't take the smell. I wouldn't mind paying a little extra as long as they were cleaned up."

While Ellie Cooper said: "I don't feel safe at the Whitgift car park, particularly at night. I use Surrey Street car park and though it costs a little bit more I feel a lot safer there."

And Louise Black said: "I'm not surprised that the car parks have lost money. Why should I pay more to park when I can pay less at Centrale and feel a lot safer?"

In June we reported how the council wanted to offer leases on three town centre car parks, Allders, Whitgift and Fairfield, because it does not have enough money to renew them. The council hopes to win back some motorists to their car parks with a special £2 all-night rate from 6pm to 6am at Allders, Whitgift, Wandle, Dingwall and Fairfield on selected dates.

A council spokesman said: "There is strong evidence that more people than ever are coming to Croydon using public transport which is great news both for the local economy and environment.

"And of course, the arrival of the brand new Centrale car park is offering shoppers further choice.

"So while parking income is not as high as we would have liked, we are nevertheless very pleased that the town centre as a product is experiencing a really successful period."