The new charges, which would take effect from 1 April, have been agreed in principle following a consultation with city centre stakeholders, but are still subject to approval of the council’s overall budget in February.
Cutting parking charges on Mondays and Tuesdays, to levels similar to those of 2012, is designed to make these low peak times of the week more attractive to visitors and shoppers.
The aim of this is to reduce demand at the weekends by encouraging those people who are able to come during the week to do so. This will help to reduce congestion at the most popular times of the week, thereby improving air quality and reducing carbon emissions.
Charges for Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays would remain at 2015 levels.
As well as freezing charges for overnight parking in recognition of the importance of the evening economy, Shopmobility customers and Blue Badge holders would continue to receive three hours of free parking.
New charges for business parking are proposed, after many years of being frozen, with a range of season tickets that are designed to cover the needs of business users across the working week.
Sunday charges would be increased in all multi-storey car parks, bringing them into line with those on Saturdays, in order to reflect the very busy nature of the city on Sundays.
Cllr Kevin Blencowe, Executive Councillor for Planning Policy and Transport, said: “We have looked closely at all of the options and I am pleased that we have been able to cut parking charges on two weekdays and freeze them for other weekdays and Saturdays too.
“Blue badge holders, Shopmobility customers and people parking during the evening or overnight will see no change.
“However, we do have to balance the need to invest in good quality parking services that offer value for money for short stay parking, with the need to reduce the city’s congestion and harmful emissions.
“While Sunday charges are set to increase, we will keep to our plan of helping customers to beat the queues at peak times, by offering cheaper alternatives to the busiest car parks on Saturdays and Sunday.”
The council has a programme of investment in its car parks and this year essential repairs have been made to protect and maintain the structure of both Park Street and Queen Anne Terrace multi-storey car parks.
The council has also invested in a new energy saving LED lighting at both the Grand Arcade and Grafton East multi-storey car parks to reduce its carbon footprint.The new LED lights are controlled by motion and light sensors that will reduce the electricity consumption and carbon emissions from the lighting even further.
The two projects are set for completion shortly and follow the successful previous installation of LED lighting at the Grand Arcade annex car park and Grafton West car park and a number of other council-owned buildings, including the Corn Exchange, the Crematorium, and several sheltered housing schemes.
New signage has been installed to deliver improved pedestrian safety at the main car parks too.
Further major investment is planned next year on continued repairs to Queen Anne car park, alongside roof repairs at Grafton East car park and deck coating replacement and improvements to the drainage in the Grand Arcade car park.
A range of organisations and interest groups were consulted on the new charges earlier this month.
Reports presented to council committees are available on the council’s website: http://democracy.cambridge.gov.uk/ieDocHome.aspx
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