Council to consider free parking for hotel guests

Councillors are to consider offering free parking for hotel guests at Hove’s Norton Road car park.

Brighton & Hove City Council has been considering whether better use could be made of the car park, which operates below full capacity.

A decision is expected at the environment committee’s next meeting on March 4. 

The authority has been looking at whether to cut prices at the car park, or make it free at certain times. However a report for councillors says it would not make much difference to uptake since charges were already low and Tesco in nearby Church Road offers free parking. 

Free parking offered at Norton Road in December brought no significant change in use, says the report.

It adds that parking charges generally help to ensure regular turnover of parking spaces, increasing footfall and spend.

Chair of the environment committee Cllr Pete West said:  “Hotels often say parking for their guests is a tricky issue.  So this new idea could be a way of helping store guests’ vehicles while they get about the city walking or using sustainable transport.  If it would help our hotel and tourism sector; it’s something I’d like us to do.

“But we need to remember parking certainly isn’t holding back our tourism sector. Latest figures show spending on tourism is up.  We’re succeeding because we have brilliant shops, restaurants, attractions and people just love the vibe.”

Read the full report (Agenda Item no. 95) here: http://democracy.brighton-hove.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=823&MId=4791