Paid on-street parking is gaining ground in the city centre of Sète

Les zonages de stationnement payant devraient être modifiés. Midi Libre – Illustration VINCENT ANDORRA

Cinquante-deux nouveaux horodateurs installés à la plage et bientôt en centre-ville.

After the beaches, here is paid parking which is gaining ground in the city center of Sète. This choice was revealed this Monday, June 24 in the municipal council and, as one might expect, sparked a lively debate with the opposition on this sensitive issue in Sète. It was a question of putting to the vote, a fourth amendment to the parking management agreement entrusted to the SPLBT intended to "integrate into the provision of parking management services, a fleet of 52 new parking meters under management". And this for the benefit of the city's accounts, argued François Escargue.

"Profitable to the city"

According to the figures presented by the elected finance official, over the duration of the public service delegation (25 years), the community "will have received a cumulative fee of 5640 694€ that the SPLBT will pay him as well as 46 M € of on-street parking revenue. These figures demonstrate, as highlighted by the regional court of auditors in its October 2021 report, that the choice of taking over parking management is profitable for the city of Sète".
François Escargue also specified that "the calculation of the remuneration for the provision of on-street parking management services" would be thus modified from July 1, 2024. In fact, these new parking meters correspond primarily to those which will come into operation this summer (until September 30) at the beaches, in particular that of the Baleine. But not only that.

Extended Green Zone

Questioned by the advisor and re-elected RN deputy, Aurélien Lopez-Liguori, François Escargue indicated that the new paid perimeter concerned the beaches but also the Victor-Hugo islet, once the work on the avenue was completed in September as well as the Quai d’Orient. Pricing “green zone” could also be extended in the fall to other streets that are still free (in addition around forty parking spaces on the Aspiran Herber quay will be removed, the Region recovering the space for the activity fishing).

What prices in green or orange zone ?

To park on the surface in the city center of Sète, it is better to know the zoning and their color. For example, the areas closest to the Royal Canal, rue Euzet, quai Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny or even avenue Victor-Hugo are in the orange zone (short duration). These axes où You can only stay for a maximum of 2 hours (0.80 euros per half hour and 10 euros for 2 hours 15 minutes, no subscription is possible). For the so-called long-term (green) zone, it currently includes 1,340 places. Essentially on the Victor-Hugo lot, it will cost you 0.60 euros; 30 minutes or 4€ the 8 hours. Residents can benefit from a subscription: 18€; per month. Non-residents pay a flat rate of 100%. 42 € per month.

"You are making a mistake with this all-pays strategy, retorted Aurélien Lopez-Liguori. Free parking leads to a virtuous circle, of crowds in shops, turnover… hellip; This is a long-term vision […]. Here, the Sétois do their shopping in the city center and not on the outskirts […] You will succeed in getting the Sétois to go to Balaruc, Agde, Béziers or Montpellier."

« Suction cup cars »

"We see further than the end of our noses, replied François Escargue, before justifying this arbitration. Everything we do in terms of parking is intentional and chosen. But, either we accept total congestion, or we apply attractive prices and we allow turnover to avoid sucker cars. This solution allows Sétois to park, but also people from outside to park. The revenue then goes to the City and makes it possible to develop, and why not then consider free transport."
For his return to the municipal council, Sébastien Denaja (PS) did not fail to highlight the choice of the majority of François Commneinhes, whom he qualified "d’anti-poor". "In addition, very often, the current housing stock does not offer the possibility for Sétois to park in a private car park. You say “You, the prole, you will park far away. And your girlfriend will pay for the parking. All night if necessary.” […] But the symbol of your policy is paid parking at the beach. The beach is the heritage of those who don’t have one. It’s the garden of those who don’t have a garden. And you make them pay for the beach! It’s not expensive, 10 € ? But it’s the symbol that’s the problem! In Sète, the beach was our common space of freedom." The question of parking and its evolution have not finished yet ;shake the landerneau.

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