Car Parking Charges for the Station, Richmond Swimming
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CAR PARKING CHARGES FOR THE STATION, RICHMOND SWIMMING POOL AND GYM CUSTOMERS ARE ON THE WAY; HOWEVER, YOU CAN MAKE THEM FAIRER IF YOU ACT IMMEDIATELY BY EXPRESSING YOUR VIEWS Richmondshire District Council is proposing to introduce car parking charges in The Station Yard Car Park this spring. We understand that the ticket machines have been ordered . This car park is currently used by customers of The Station, Richmond Swimming Pool and Liberty Gym. All of these buildings and the activities which take place in them are organised and maintained through the efforts of two local volunteer-led charities: The Station – Is operated by The Richmondshire Building Preservation Trust The Pool and Gym – Are operated by the Richmond Leisure Trust If you regularly use these ‘much loved’ charity-run-facilities , and choose to park your vehicle in the council owned Station Yard Car Park, you will shortly be charged for your visit. The charities that operate these facilities believe that what is being proposed will have an immediate and detrimental impact on these community amenities which are run on a ‘not-for profit’ basis - and could ultimately force them to close. The local authority appear to have little or no relevant research on which to justify their position. Your help is needed NOW to ensure that the views of people like you, who value The Station, pool and gym, to make your voices heard on this critical issue by writing to or phoning your district councillor, if you live in Richmondshire or writing to the head of the local authority if you don't. We would also ask you to share your views with the media. The information you'll need to do this is on the Richmondshire District Council website and is also shown below. Two vitally important developments have taken place recently that could affect the outcome of this situation: THE STATION HAS OFFERED TO BUY THE CAR PARK 1) The Charity which runs the Station has offered to purchase the Station Yard Car Park from Richmondshire District Council for £250,000. This is a substantial amount of money and represents one-third of the District Council’s current budget deficit. If The Station owns the car park it would propose to provide two hours of free car parking to any customers of The Station businesses, the swimming pool and the gym. A charge of £1 would be made to customers wishing to park for up to four hours. DISTRICT COUNCIL PARKING CHARGES COULD KILL OFF THE STATION, POOL AND GYM 2) Richmondshire District Council has published a list of the charges that they intend to impose which would mean that EVERYONE using The Station Yard Car Park will have to pay, even if you are parking there to use these charity-run-facilities. With the RDC proposed charges, just visiting for one hour will cost £1.10 ; a four hour stay will cost £3.10 . These charges are extremely high – especially for an ‘out-of-town’ car park serving a very specific group of amenities. You can greatly influence the outcome of this vitally important matter by expressing your views in writing or with a phone call. It is vital that you let your views be known NOW whilst consultation is taking place – otherwise there is a likelihood that the district council will push ahead with their plans and the sensible alternative which the Station Charity has proposed will not be properly heard and may be dismissed as having no support. Here are some of the points you may want to make known: 1 Ask the District Council why they don’t wish to support and encourage local charities by keeping The Station Yard Car Park free or simply sell it to The Station Charity? 2 If you have to pay extra to park your car when you go swimming, maybe you will you stop going to the pool or go to another pool that has free car parking. 3 If you have to pay extra to park your car, just to have a cup of coffee in The Station, maybe you will stop using this facility completely. 4 Ask if The Station Yard Car Park is essential to providing local services that the council is ‘required to do by law’ and if not why don’t they sell it to The Station Charity and gain an extra £250,000 which they could use to improve the services that they must offer local people . 5 Please remind them that The Station redevelopment was largely achieved – and is still run - through the efforts of unpaid volunteers who continue to help to look after the building. 6 Please remind them that The Station receives no local grant or financial support from local government to provide the services which take place in the building. The Station doesn’t cost local people a penny through local taxes. 7 The Station redevelopment project brought £2,700,000 of funding into Richmondshire and has provided one of the most admired attractions anywhere in the region. 8 The Station attracts around 350,000 visitors each year and has created 35 jobs in the district. It has served to help regenerate the fortunes of the entire town. 9 The swimming pool attracted 155,000 swimmers in 2011; an increase of 5% on 2010 and considerably higher than the national trend which is declining. 10 Richmond Pool delivers over 5,100 swimming lessons every month which includes babies, children, adults, disabled swimmers and school parties. Two Olympians began their careers here. 11 Since the Leisure Trust took over the management of the Liberty Health Club memberships have grown by 44%. 12 The Leisure Trust has introduced the Les Mills exercise to music programme at the gym and is the only club in North Yorkshire that offers this programme. Attendances at these classes have risen from 600 per month to just under 1,100 per month. WHO TO WRITE TO OR PHONE 1 Your district councillor, if you live in Richmondshire. All of their names, addresses and phone numbers are listed on the attached page. If you're still not sure who your councillor is just ring the council offices and ask. Their number is 01748 829100 . These are the people who want to hear your views. They need to know that you believe the car park should be sold to The Station Charity to secure the future of The Station, pool and gym and also to generate £250,000 of extra funding for the local authority. 2 If you live outside Richmondshire, please send your letter to the Leader of the Council, Mr John Blackie. His address and contact details as shown on RDC web-site are : Mr John Blackie Richmondshire District Council Leader Dryden House Market Place Hawes, North Yorkshire DL8 3RA - Phone - 01969 667123 - Mobile - 07967 589096 3 Regardless as to what action you take, please keep us informed of what you've done. 4 If you want help with your letter or have any specific questions about this issue please contact: Donald Cline 68 Frenchgate Richmond, North Yorkshire DL10 7AG - Phone 01748 822116 [email protected] 5. The Northern Echo and Darlington and Stockton Times will like to know what you think. If you can, send them a copy of your letter, email them or give them a call. Joe Willis - The Northern Echo - Priestgate, Darlington, DL1 1NF 01325 505067 - Email: [email protected] Malcolm Warne - D & S Times - Priestgate, Darlington, DL1 1NF 01325 505109 Email: [email protected] The best outcome for the community from our joint efforts will be to convince Richmondshire District Council to sell the car park to The Station Charity. Once they impose parking charges, the future of The Station, the pool and gym are in real doubt. Thank you for expressing your feelings on behalf of both The Station Charity and the Richmondshire Leisure Trust; volunteer run organisations with your interests at heart. Campbell Dawson (Con) Barton - Parishes of Barton, Newton Morrell, Willow Bridge Service Station, Stapleton and Cleasby Newton Morrell, Richmond DL10 6HN [email protected] 01325 377204 John Amsden (Ind) Bolton Castle - Bolton Castle - Parishes of East End Farm, Carperby, Bellerby, Carperby-cum-horesby, Castle Bolton East End Farm, Carperby, with East and West Bolton, Preston-under-Scar, Leyburn DL8 4DB Redmire and Wensley [email protected] 01969 663432 or 07990 570243 Danny Gill (Con) Brompton-on-Swale and Scorton - 53 Richmond Road, Brompton-on-Swale, Parishes of Brompton-on-Swale, Bolton-on- Richmond DL10 7HF Swale, Easby, Ellerton-on-Swale, Scorton and [email protected] Uckerby 01748 818121 or 07582 408224 Rob Johnson (Con) Catterick 1 Garth Close, Catterick Village, Richmond DL10 7RY [email protected] 07885 594338 Tony Pelton (Ind) Catterick Joiners Cottage, High Green, Catterick Village, Richmond DL10 7LN [email protected] 01748 818703 Bill Glover (Con) Colburn Holly Cottage, Colburn Village, Catterick Garrison DL9 4PD [email protected] 01748 832695 Ian Threlfall (Con) Brompton-on-Swale and Scorton The Olde Barn, Uckerby, Scorton, Parishes of Brompton-on-Swale, Bolton-on- Richmond DL10 6DA Swale, Easby, Ellerton-on-Swale, Scorton and [email protected] Uckerby 01748 811323 Peter Wood (Ind) Colburn 31 First Avenue, Colburn, Catterick Garrison DL9 4RH [email protected] 01748 833127 Jane Parlour (Lib Dem) Croft - Parishes of Croft on Tees, Dalton on Eryholme and North Cowton Tees, Eryholme and North Cowton Village Farm, Dalton on Tees, Darlington DL2 2NT [email protected] 01325 720446 William Heslop (Ind) Gilling - Parishes of Aske, Gayles, Gilling with Sedbury Park Farm, Gilling West, Hartforth and Sedbury, Kirby Hill, Ravensworth Richmond DL10 5LN and Whashton [email protected] 01748 822749 John Blackie