RESOLVED:
1. That all charges relating to parking at all Countryside Estate car parks currently managed under lease by Surrey Wildlife Trust be removed, with effect from 1 April 2020 be agreed.
2. That authority be delegated to the Executive Director of Highways, Transport and Environment, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Fire and Resilience, the development and implementation of a plan to deliver recommendation 1.
3. That proposals be developed for the introduction of a voluntary payment scheme be agreed.
Reason for decision:
The Countryside Estate service operated 15 car parks across the county, where charges were made for parking to residents and visitors wishing to access the countryside. Following the implementation of the charges in July 2018 it was agreed that a review of the impact of car park charging would be undertaken after 12 months of operation. This review has concluded that the original policy of charging visitors to park when visiting the countryside estate had not delivered the significant financial contribution and was no longer aligned with the council’s overarching Vision 2030.
[The decisions on this item can be called in by the Communities, Environment and Highways Select Committee]