2.1 - Six public car parks serving a small town such as Romsey are inefficient and confusing for visitors. Existing parking facilities are inadequate and will not be able to cope with future demand.
2.2 - Businesses, retailers and shoppers rate improved and increased parking high in their priorities.
2.3 - The TVBC overall economic policy includes the promotion of a “moderate expansion of tourism in Test Valley"(ref 18). Clearly, additional tourists will need additional parking space.
2.4 - The Waitrose development will result in a loss of 35 public car parking spaces on that site and supermarket parking will become worse than now
2.5 - Parking spaces will probably be lost on implementation of the shared surface scheme and other town improvement schemes
2.6 - Romsey's nearest neighbour, Southampton, has a huge retail development at West Quay (see Appendix B). Written into its business plan is a statement of how much trade the new shops will take from Romsey. The town can respond by improving its environment, traffic circulation and parking facilities so as to encourage those customers who don't like the noise and hassle of large shopping malls.
Picture - Marks & Spencer in West Quay - big enough to accommodate all Romsey shops
2.7 - Whilst recognising the Government's good intentions in discouraging use of the car, traffic volume is nevertheless set to increase (by about 25% by 2010) and the pressure on parking will increase. Romsey's large neighbours, Winchester and Salisbury, plan to extend 'park and ride' schemes to meet demand as it arises. Romsey does not have this option because it is too small. Its commercial centre also serves a rural area where public transport is not a viable alternative to the car.
2.8 - The possible provision of an additional 1500 or so homes in the catchment area of the Romsey commercial centre would increase the local population and hence the demand for parking spaces by about 10%. The new residents should be encouraged to shop in the town by making parking easier and improving the shopping environment.
2.9 - The TVBC plan to treble the size of the street market in the town (ref 27) will require additional parking if it is to be successful.
2.10 - The retail study commissioned by TVBC has revealed scope for additional floor space in Romsey for the sale of both bulky and non-bulky comparison goods. That is, the vision is that of an expanding shopping centre not a stagnant one
2.11 - If parking were concentrated in the Broadwater Road area, Newton Lane and Lortemore car parks could be made free for other uses such as a town garden and a showpiece residential development (see sections 5 and 6) which would increase the interest and diversity to be found in the town.
