Pay and Dismay

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Surrey County Council is determined to implement a Pay and Display scheme across Elmbridge, the implementation start date for Walton is scheduled May-June this year.

The Pay and Display plans for Surrey identify 3500 parking bays of which 177 are in Walton, these extend from roads in the town centre up to and including Station Avenue /Rydens Road. The implementation cost of the scheme across Surrey is approximately £1.5m and revenue generated will be £2.5m per annum. 

Currently parking enforcement operates at a loss of £.5m per annum, this loss plus installation costs and increased management costs results in the scheme not being profitable for some years. Walton is currently classed as a medium tariff area.

Should SCC introduce Pay by Phone meters a new and somewhat hidden charge will hit any motorist parking in Walton; for every phone call made .20pence is added for making the call (typical charge made by mobile phone service providers) added to the minimum parking fee results in a cost to the motorist of .70 pence for half an hour.

An example of how this will affect residents is; parents dropping and collecting children at Ashley School will pay a minimum fee each time that is £1.40 a day for parking fees, whereas today with restricted parking they are able to park for up to an hour before having to move their vehicle.

Walton centre already has restricted parking in most of the areas SCC wish to include in this scheme and businesses are just struggling to get used to the constraints this puts on their revenue, however if we are to believe Cllr Ian Lake who is championing this scheme everyone will benefit from a greater turnover of cars in our town centre and SCC will benefit from more revenue.

Or, will any motorist who looks at the new charges decide to go and shop  ‘out of town’ and park for free!

Important Notice to Blue Badge Parking Permits Holder using the High Street

The new arrangements on the High Street seem to have tried to find a balance for the different  parking needs i.e. Short term parking, Disabled parking and Loading/Unloading of Commercial vehicles, but maintaining traffic flow at the same time. Unfortunately the new markings have led to a number of Blue Badge Holders being given penalty tickets as drivers seem unaware of the double yellow markings on the kerb and the ‘NO Loading or Unloading’ Signs. These regulations apply to ALL vehicles and details can be found in the Literature accompanying Blue Badges and on the Internet.