The Executive has decided to approve a revised car parking strategy for West Oxfordshire District Council, aiming to balance the needs of residents, businesses, and reduce traffic pollution.

URL: https://meetings.westoxon.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=436

Decision Maker: Executive

Outcome:

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Purpose:

Content: Councillor Tim Sumner, Executive Member for Leisure and Carterton Area Strategy, presented the item, the purpose of which was to consider and agree the revised car parking strategy 2016 – 2031. In presenting the item Councillor Sumner explored the conundrum of car parking which he stated had no absolute solution. Therefore, a car parking strategy needed to balance the demands of parking volume, traffic flow, the needs of residents and businesses and decreasing traffic pollution. It was noted that satisfying one group would not necessarily satisfy others. Councillor Sumner encouraged local engagement with the process and advised that this would be factored into the strategy in future. Finally, Councillor Sumner advised that the Council had finite resources for parking and must maintain and continue to monitor these resources as well as continuing with the free parking offered in the district.   In the discussion the following points were raised by the Executive and Members of the Council present at the meeting:   It was noted that there was a difference in the figures for parking need in Witney between the proposed strategy, which showed a surplus of parking spaces, and the previous strategy, which showed a deficit. It was explained that this was reflective of changing parking habits since the previous version of the strategy. This change may have been attributable to changes in working and shopping habits. The figures were explored in relation to Woodford Way. The data suggested that the main users of this car park were shoppers and not workers. The data had been gathered using two surveys over a two-year period. The surveys included asking customers the purpose of their visit to the car park. The potential use of Council owned land for car parking, in particular Brook Hill and Union Street in Woodstock, was questioned. The balance of the number of long stay and short stay parking spaces at Hensington Road car park in Woodstock was explored. It was noted that the survey for Hensington Road had also been completed over a two-year period. It was concluded that the strategy provided a platform based on data and was therefore a snapshot. The strategy would go out to consultation following the decision of the Executive. Operational and management matters would also be considered following the consultation. When changes were made subsequent parking orders would be required and this would result in a further consultation.   Councillor Enright informed the Executive that the wording of recommendation 6 was to be amended in accordance with a recommendation from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. The revised wording of the recommendation would be:   “Approved the funding to investigate the drainage and mitigate flooding at Guildenford car park in Burford at a cost estimated at £20,000”.   Councillor Ashton noted that the report showed that the amount of parking needed in Burford was not provided for at present and advised that the Town Council was looking into ways of increasing parking provision.   Councillor Ashton proposed a wording change to the strategy on page 15. He proposed that the wording:   “With on-street parking charges being introduced by the County Council, the management of the district council car parks require a careful balance”.   Be amended to read:   “Where on street parking charges are introduced by the County Council the management of the district county car parks would require a careful balance.”   Councillor Ashton also proposed an additional recommendation be added under 5.4 of the Strategy, Options – Sustainable Transport, to read:   “To investigate the practicality of promoting local public transport services at appropriate locations within the Council owned car parks”.   Councillor Sumner proposed accepting the recommendations of the report, with the amended wording to the Strategy as suggested by Councillor Ashton, and the amendment to recommendation 6, as recommended by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.   Councillor Prosser seconded the recommendations and noted that maintaining free parking was central to the strategy, as was aiming to reduce congestion to achieve climate goals.   This proposal was voted on and approved unanimously.   RESOLVED: That the Executive: 1. Endorsed the revised West Oxfordshire District Council Car Parking Strategy 2025 -2031 at Annex A. 2. Authorised the Business Manager (Support and Advice) to make minor amendments to the draft strategy prior to finalisation in consultation with the accountable member of the Executive. 3. Adopted the Action plan in Annex A of the strategy recognising it as a working document to be updated throughout the life of the strategy as a consequence of further consultations with Towns and Parishes. 4. Instructed Officers to make a variation to the Parking Order to implement a mixture of long and short stay times to better meet customer demand in Woodstock, Burford and Charlbury. Recommended splits are attached at Annex B with final exact splits to be determined by Officers in consultation with Executive Member for Environment 5. Delegated authority to Executive Director of Resident Services in conjunction with the Executive Member for Environment to consider consultation feedback on the variations to the parking order and decide whether to make the variation to the Order in whole or in part or to abandon the proposal. 6. Approved the funding to investigate the drainage and mitigate flooding at Guildenford car park in Burford at a cost estimated at £20,000. 7. Delegated further minor amendments to Parking Orders to the Executive Director Residents Services in consultation with the Executive Member for Environment to deal with items arising from Parish and Town Council liaison meetings subject to formal Parking Order consultation requirements    

Date of Decision: July 9, 2025