Free parking hour to draw people into city

Council will offer one hour’s free parking at Council sites in the central city as part of a four month trial to encourage people back into the city centre.

The trial, approved by Council today, will coincide with the opening of the Lichfield St carparking building, with the one hour free applying at off-street Council carparks. These include Lichfield Street Car Park, the Art Gallery Car Park, Worcester Street, Aldergate, and the New Regent Street site.

Christchurch City Council Transport Operations Manager Aaron Haymes said Council wanted to encourage both residents and visitors into the Central City to get a taste of the new environment and retail and hospitality offerings.

“We’re excited about what the summer holds for the central city, with several key commercial developments opening. Alongside the free parking trial we are also converting all our off-street facilities from long stay parking sites to short stay parking, providing much needed additional short term stay parks,” Mr Haymes said.

“Recent analysis of our off-street car parking has showed a growth in occupancy, at a time when several new carpark buildings have opened. This indicates overall growth in demand for parking within the central city. Sites with all day parking have high occupancy and sites with short stay parks indicate steadily growing occupancy.”

The Development Forum had recommended Christchurch City Council provide the free hour of parking in Council off-street parking sites for four months from the opening of the Lichfield St car parking building in late October/early November.

Council today also approved a recommendation that a long term central city parking strategy was needed to support activity in the central city, and asked Council to work with Development Christchurch Ltd on this and report back within three months.

Council also agreed to consult on whether the initiative should be extended during the 2018 Long Term Plan process; that it work with businesses on a joint marketing campaign for the central city; and that it convert some of the Council's existing long stay parking to short stay.

ENDS

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