ENQUIRY C - CAR PARKING PROVISION

Aim:
To investigate where the parking restrictions are in Solihull CBD
To investigate the various size, location and costs of car parking in Solihull
To determine whether customers perceive that the car parking facilities provided are adequate for their needs

Hypotheses
Cars will not be allowed in the centre of Solihull CBD. The main shopping area – High St will be pedestrianised. This is because the functions that are situated in these main shopping areas want to make the place as attractive to customers as possible so that they can generate as much money as possible. If no cars are allowed then the shopping area is a safer area.
There is restricted access to and within the centre of the CBD. This is because the CBD is the busiest part of a town and if transport was allowed to drive through the centre it would become very congested, more polluted and less safe
The largest car parks will be located nearer to the centre of the CBD and as you move further out the car parks will get smaller. The busiest place in the CBD is likely to be the centre where the majority of the shops are and where people work. People do not want to walk long distances from the car parks to the town centre. The priority will be to please customers and to make the shopping area as easily accessible as possible – largest car parks



Suggested methods

Blank A4 map
Note where parking is restricted to buses and taxis, where no cars were allowed at all and where parking was permitted

Secondary data – Solihull library, Council Offices, Websites
Map showing location of car parks and car parking restrictions.
List of car parks in Solihull, their size and cost

Questionnaire will prove that the car parks in Solihull are adequate for their needs, provide easy access to the shops and that there are usually plenty of spaces available. This will ensure that demands are met and that customers will be satisfied with the facilities and will return.

Questionnaire will also show that people believe that the car parks in Solihull are expensive. Prices are unlikely to be so high as to discourage people to visit. Short stay prices will be competitive to attract shoppers. Long stay car park charges may be high so as to encourage workers to seek other forms of transport for commuting to work. Car parks may be expensive as the council know that people will have no choice but to pay the price demanded. Prices might also be high to cover the price of the land in the CBD

Questionnaire
How would you rate these aspects of car parking on a scale of 1-5?
i. Access to shops from the car park (1 = easy)
ii. Price of car parking (1 = cheap)
iii. Disabled access (1 = very good)
iv. Car parking spaces (1 = plenty available)
How easy the parking metres are to use on a scale of 1 – 5 (1 = easy)
Which in your opinion, is the best car park in Solihull?
Touchwood, Sainsbury’s, Lode Lane, Poplar Way, John Lewis, other – specify

Photo analysis
Ease of access / number of lanes
Height restrictions
Multi storey
Number of spaces
Lighting
Barriers
Speed bumps
Under cover
Name
Access to shopping area
Parking restrictions on approach roads