UPDATED! Parking fees to rise by up to 100%
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18 Feb 2011
Stroud District Council has decided to go ahead with its plans to increase parking charges in the town by up to 100%, despite concerns expressed by the Town Council that the move could put Stroud’s regeneration success story at risk.
The changes will see parking fees at the town’s Rowcroft and Brunel Mall car parks double in price. Charges in its other three facilities will rise by over 60%.
There will also be a scrapping of the free parking after 4pm in Church street car park and the two-hours-for-50p in Brunel Mall. The full list of increases and the consultation letter can be read in the documents below.
The move follows notification that the district council will also be cutting its regeneration budget, which helps town centres such as Stroud, by 50% in the coming year.
The district council has blamed government finding cuts and the fact that prices have not gone up for three years.
Stroud Mayor Andy Read said: “In the past 20 years Stroud has become a national success story for the way it has fought back against the clone towns that have appeared elsewhere. Only last year was Stroud recognised as one of the greatest towns in the country and our Farmers Markets the best in Britain.”
“We all know the government has reduced Stroud District Council’s funding by 28%. However to slash 50% from town centre spending and then to increase its tax on motorists by up to 100% is unreasonable. There has to be a significant risk that all of the hard work put in by so many people over the past 20 years will be undone. We wrote during the consultation period to urge a more measured approach, but have now been told by the District council that it is to go ahead with the changes as planned.”
The town council had requested more time to explore the introduction of charges at all District Council car parks as a fairer option, along with cutting costs elsewhere. Currently fees in Stroud subsidise free parking in 28 of the council’s other car parks including Dursley and Nailsworth.
Stroud Town Council has avoided any budget cuts to town centre projects in the coming year with continued funding for Stroud in Bloom, CCTV, the Christmas lights, the Space, Stroud Show, office for the Chamber of Trade, the Textile and Printmaking Festivals, The Fringe and the Walking and Food and Drink Festivals to be held in September and a number of other projects.
tariff_consultation_2011 21.00 Kb
letter_re_parking_charges_consultation 26.50 Kb
Article added online: 17th February 2011
Article updated 30th March 2011