Issue details

As part of the COVID-19 response, Local Authorities, including Crawley have been offering free parking to NHS Staff and “Vaccinator Staff,” at Orchard Street Car Park. This is due to expire on 21st June 2021 to coincide with the original date for stage 4 of the government roadmap.

The national pass guidance and agreement it was based upon was & still is a voluntary arrangement to provide support during an emergency period rather than national policy so Councils have used their own discretion and can continue to do so from here.

The free parking was designed to ease pressure within hospital settings when they were at capacity. Hospital admissions have since reduced.

Since April 2020 the Council have facilitated 244 registered vehicles to park for free at a cost of £41,860. The Council can recover £0.75 in the £1.00 up until the end of Q1 of 2021/22.

To extend this arrangement until the 21st September 2021 would see additional lost income of approximately £20,707. This could be covered by the Covid-19 reserve fund.

WSCC have indicated that they are not minded to extend the free entitlement in respect of on street parking however the Council is able to take its own decision on their own car parks.

The loss in income cannot be sustained over the medium term.