Due to the rising costs of operating and maintaining car parks and keeping streets clean, Stratford District Council is carrying out a short public consultation exercise with concessionary permit holders.

The Council is looking at the concessionary (over 65s) parking permit, which is currently available at £10 per year.

Some of the permits are currently misused, with the friends and family of permit holders using the registered vehicle on a regular basis. Also, a number of permit holders are still working full-time in Stratford Town Centre (but are only paying £10 per annum for the privilege to park for up to 40 hours a week). The proposal to abolish the concessionary permit is one of equity and administration costs, rather than income generation.

The Council has carried out a benchmarking exercise on concessionary (over 65s) parking permits. Out of fifteen comparable local authorities in the Midlands and South West region, only two offer such a permit – Wychavon District Council at £100 per year and Wyre Forest District Council at £175 per year. Interestingly, around 54% of permit holders in Stratford-on-Avon District have a CV37 (Stratford-upon-Avon) postcode, which goes against the Council’s aim of Stratford-on-Avon District being carbon neutral by 2030.

We are also looking at how often you use the permit and the reasons for doing so.

To respond to this Consultation you can feedback in the following ways:

• Complete the survey online using this link https://online1.snapsurveys.com/permit

• Request a paper copy of the survey by telephoning Stratford-on-Avon District Council on 01789 267575

• Writing to us at (no stamp required) Freepost RTJX-GHEE-ZUCS, Stratford-on-Avon District Council, Consultation Unit, Elizabeth House, Church Street, STRATFORD-UPON-AVON, CV37 6HX

Closing date is Friday 26^th March 2021.