From September 1st, parking rules are changing in Alès!

À partir du 1er septembre 2024, seule la première heure sera gratuite dans les parkings de structure à Alès. Midi Libre – ALEXIS BETHUNE

The city is changing the rules for parking on the surface and in structured car parks. A "merchant ticket" will be put in place.

In Alès, the day before the start of the school year, on September 1st, is accompanied by a change in the rules for parking in the city centre. The main reason: « The deficit of 700,000 euros to the parking authority budget », could be read in Midi Libre of March 21, 2024.

Read also:Parking: Max Roustan, Mayor of Alès, assures that “free parking is not being called into question”

After several months of discussions with traders, the changes have been finalized. “We want to simplify the rules”, explains Christophe Rivenq, First Deputy Mayor, Max Roustan. “There will be one free hour everywhere, i.e. in structured car parks as well as on the surface in zones A and B. But you will have to go to the parking meter to have it validated. The idea is to create rotation in order to respond to an expression on the lack of places”, adds the elected official. So the second hour is over for free in the structure's car parks.

The latest discussions on the subject of a “merchant ticket” between the municipality and the Association of Alès merchants and town shops (Acev) are still fresh and Frédéric Brunel, president, seems satisfied: “The principle is that the customer presents his structure ticket to the merchant who can then give him a ticket for thirty minutes of additional free use beyond the first hour. This will allow him to stay longer in town and compensate for the loss of the 2nd hour."

These tickets will first be used on a trial basis. "About twenty merchants have validated the test period which will extend until the end of December. If it is conclusive, the principle of the tickets will be extended."

The implementation of merchant tickets

In total,“7,000 tickets representing 3,500 hours will be offered to customers by the city's merchants”. But given the time frame, it is difficult to implement these advantages as early as September 1st. “We are waiting for the city's communication plan, which should arrive quickly to launch the process of purchasing tickets by merchants. Even if the merchant is not a member of the association, he will be able to buy some."

As for the town hall, a period of two to three weeks is mentioned, taking into account the time needed to print the tickets and distribute them.

Stickers affixed to the storefronts will allow easy identification of the stores concerned. The list of merchants will also be indicated on the association's website. The city, for its part, is planning a specific communication campaign for all these changes with "leaflets, and small information spots".

I subscribe to read the rest