Great Western Coffee Shop

I have definitely seen a vehicle ticketed at Chippenham Station Car Park Number One for parking at the end of a row, outside of the marked bays. On more than one occasion, in fact. You're right about the Network Rail vans though: they do seem to be able to park wherever they like.

Another quick update from me:

I understand that the lines around the 'authorised' parking spaces in the station car park are to be repainted (and apparently, some spaces which were not 'officially' recognised in the past, but where commuters have now established the precendent of parking there, will now be included)!

And just as an aside ... is anyone aware of any fines actually being imposed, for anyone parking outside the current 'official' bays?  (This includes the Network Rail vans that persistently park on the double yellow lines in the turning bay, by the way!)  If not, what was the point of putting up all those cheery notices about ^70 fines being imposed???  >:(

On the other hand: we could then perhaps re-brand our station as Portishead Parkway?  ::)

Railway station set to introduce car parking charges

Commuters using Nailsea and Backwell railway station will soon have to pay ^1.50 a day to park their cars to catch the train.

North Somerset Council is planning to spend ^700,000 on expanding the car park at Station Road, which is currently free, by a further 183 spaces.

The scheme will see the number of parking spaces available increase from 120 to 303, and changed to pay and display.

The introduction of parking fees will fund the ^700,000 scheme and cover operating costs.

The land has already been purchased by the district council and work could start this year to tie-in with ^1million Department of Transport improvements to the platform access ramps.

Season tickets will be offered for regular travellers at ^300 per year or ^90 per quarter with off-peak travellers ^ after 10am and at weekends ^ paying ^1.

Money for the capital costs will be borrowed and paid back over 25 years at ^57,178 per year.

The council is predicting 55 per cent car park occupancy in the first year rising to an average of 61 per cent during the loan period.

The report to the executive said: ^An appropriate level of charge may help encourage those living nearby to walk or cycle and those living further away to car share or catch the bus. The availability of spaces would then improve for other users and make the rail option more attractive.^

Work on the car park expansion is expected to be completed by 2015.

Nailsea Town Council, First Great Western and local environmental groups are in favour of the scheme.

Currently the car park is full by 7.30am on weekdays, deterring people from using the train for their regular commute to work as well as leaving no space for travellers who wish to travel off peak.

The lack of car parking also results in many people parking in adjoining residential streets and in the nearby lake car park.

Nailsea Town Council clerk Ian Morrell said: ^The town council has long supported the extension of the car park at the station. However, there have been no discussions about charges and any implementation of charges at the station car park should be completely unconnected any proposed at the town centre which we continue to strongly oppose.^

North Somerset has been considering introducing fees at all council-owned car parks in Clevedon, Nailsea and Portishead ^ a move strongly resisted by local businesses.

The cash-strapped authority has already given approval to a scheme to install parking meters on 28 streets in the Weston-super-Mare centre where people will have to pay ^1.20 an hour six days a week to park.

It will cost 40 pence for 20 minutes and then 20 pence for each subsequent ten minute period ^ with a maximum two-hour stay.

Council chiefs say the move to introduce the parking meters is necessary to regulate parking in the town and follows concerns from traders, shoppers and residents that motorists are flouting existing parking restrictions by leaving cars in timed bays for longer than they are allowed.

The authority is now looking at expanding the use of on-street parking metres to other towns across the district.

Rail commuters could be charged for parking in Backwell side roads

Backwell parish councillors want commuters charged for clogging up village roads.

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Train travellers warned not to leave their cars in Backwell side roads

The councilors are calling for parking restrictions to be introduced on residential roads around Nailsea and Backwell railway station ahead of the introduction of a new charging scheme.

North Somerset Council is planning to spend ^700,000 on expanding Nailsea and Backwell station car park by a further 183 spaces. But there is a price to pay as although the scheme will see the number of parking spaces increase from 120 to 303 they will all become pay and display.

The introduction of parking fees will fund the scheme and cover operating costs. But parish councillors can't wait and are calling on highways chiefs to look at introducing restrictions on nearby roads now.

They say roads including Moor Lane, Waverley Road and Amberlands Close are already regularly gridlocked by travellers leaving their cars to catch the train and the problem will only get worse when people have to pay to park.

Parish leaders are calling for a meeting with the district council highways department  to look at what measures could be introduced to stop on street parking.

Backwell Parish Council chairman Bob Taylor said: "We already have a problem with parking on residential roads around the station and this will only get worse when the charges are introduced. People already drive from Yatton to avoid the parking charges there and when they find the car park in Backwell is full, they just use the side roads.

"Motorists park right up to the junctions, which is very dangerous and often these residential roads are turned into single lane carriageways as a result. It is an accident waiting to happen. The issue needs to be looked at now ahead of the charges being introduced."

A number of measures have already been suggested, including the introduction of a residents' parking scheme on the affected roads and new road markings warning people not to park,

Mr Taylor added: "We could not go as far as considering double yellow lines on these roads because ultimately someone would have to enforce them, North Somerset initially said it would monitor the situation when the work is done to the station car park. But the surrounding roads are already chock a block with cars and measures need to be put in place now."

The land for the car park expansion has already been purchased by the district council and work is due to start next year.

Season tickets will be offered for regular travellers at ^300 per year or ^90 per quarter with off-peak travellers - after 10am and at weekends - paying ^1. People parking before 10am will have to pay ^1.50 a day.

Money for the capital costs will be borrowed and paid back over 25 years at ^57,178 per year.

Work on the car park expansion is expected to be completed by 2015.

Currently the car park is full by 7.30am on weekdays, deterring people from using the train for their regular commute to work as well as leaving no space for travellers who wish to travel off peak.   

Many commuters have returned to their vehicles are the end of the day to find residents have left rude notes under the windscreen wipers suggesting they park eslewhere.

Pay to park for picking up passengers

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People dropping friends and relatives off to catch a train at Nailsea and Backwell Station will have to pay even if they use the car park for less than 20 minutes.

North Somerset Council has decided to implement a 20p charge for people who use the car park to pick up and drop off passengers, despite opposition from Nailsea Town Council.

Town council clerk, Ian Morrell, said: ^Charging people for less than 20 minutes is inconsistent with what^s done elsewhere in the district and in Bristol. We just think it^s unenforceable if people choose to flout it. Why bother trying to charge people who are just dropping their friends or relatives off. Giving people 20 minutes of free parking is not going to cost the council a lot of money. The real target market is charging people using the car park and then travelling by train.^

Nailsea Town Council objected to the proposal during North Somerset Council^s consultation on the new off-street parking order, which will see the same charges added to Worle Parkway station in Weston.

Despite its objection, the council received a reply stating that the authority will be going ahead with the charges, which will be implemented when the car park extension is completed in August.

Commuters will be charged ^1.50 to use the car park for 24 hours, or ^1 off-peak. Travellers will also be able to park at the facility throughout the weekend for ^2. A seven-day ticket is priced at ^6 and commuters will also be able to buy permits at a price of ^200 for 12 months, ^110 for six months and ^60 for three months.

Once work has been completed the car park in Station Road will be renamed Nailsea and Backwell Station Car Park.

Charge for drivers dropping off at Nailsea railway station under fire

Council chiefs in Nailsea have criticised plans to charge people 20 pence to drop off and collect passengers using the town's railway station.

North Somerset Council is to press ahead with plans to introduce a 20 pence charge for people using Nailsea and Backwell railway station car park for up to 20 minutes to collect or drop off passengers.

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The car park at Nailsea and Backwell railway station

The move comes despite Nailsea Town Council objecting to the charge, saying it would be "unenforceable".

The parking charges will come into force following the completion of a ^700,000 expansion of the station car park to provide a further 183 spaces.
 
People who currently use the car park can do so for free.

A planning application for the expansion is due to be submitted shortly and work is expected to start in the autumn and take three months to complete.

Nailsea Town Council clerk Ian Morrell said other stations ^ including Temple Meads in Bristol ^ had designated drop off and collection points. He said: "The town council raised its objections to the 20 pence charge during the consultation. Councillors felt this charge would be unenforceable and although it is not a lot of money it is also the hassle factor for people and could force motorists into the side roads or to park at Backwell Lake. If people decide they are not going to pay how, realistically, is the council going to enforce it?"

He added: "It's not as if there will be someone there checking all the time and it raises questions over the credibility of introducing parking charges at the station. Councillors felt that a 20 pence charge was not critical to the business case of charging at the car park. The real income will come from those people parking at the station all day. At a time when people are being encouraged to use public transport, we feel this small charge could be a source of contention."

The expansion will see the number of parking spaces available increase from 120 to 303 which will be changed to pay and display spaces. The introduction of parking fees will fund the ^700,000 scheme and cover operating costs.

Councillors in Backwell have already raised concerns that charging will force travellers to park on residential roads in the village. They say roads including Moor Lane, Waverley Road and Amberlands Close are already regularly grid-locked by commuters leaving their cars to catch the train and the problem will only get worse when people have to pay to park.

Details of the charges to be implemented at the station have already been agreed. Season tickets will be offered for regular travellers at ^300 per year or ^90 per quarter with off-peak travellers ^ after 10am and at weekends ^ paying ^1. People parking before 10am will have to pay ^1.50 a day.

Currently the car park is full by 7.30am on weekdays, deterring people from using the train for their regular commute to work as well as leaving no space for travellers who wish to travel off peak.

Nailsea and Backwelll get their parking cheap.
The new car park at Hanborough costs ^3.00 a day and this is cheaper than other Cotswold Line stations such as Charlbury and Kingham.

... I forgot to acknowledge Chris from Nailsea's help in compiling the pre-charging figures.

So, here's the impact of introducing charging:-

Before expansion: 100 places. Usually fulll by 7.40am.

After expansion pre charging: 300 places, between 170 and 190 taken by lunchtime.

After expansion, third week of charging.  300 places, 113 cars (excluding the attendant's van checking cars).

The good news is that anybody who wants a space now can have one, but what has happened to the other 70ish cars? I've overhead a couple of commuters discuss and say that they now park in the side roads, so the only effect appears to have been a redistribution of who parks in the side roads from being based on time of arrival to inclination to pay. 

An update, I've been able to count a couple of times recently and the number of cars has risen to around 190. So it would appear as though people are coming round to the idea of paying.

Four years on, it looks as though additional capacity is now required. Prior to the Christmas slowdown in the last week or so, the car park has been pretty much full by 08.30.