CAR parking charges are rising in certain local council areas in England.
The changes come as inflation hit 11% last month – riding a 41-year high.
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The soaring rate of the current cost of living crisis means food, bills and now car parking charges are going up.
It’s important to note that some of these changes are only proposed, others are agreed on and some are already in place.
A spokesperson for the Local Government Association, which represents over 350 councils in England and Wales, said: “The cost of providing public services has increased with rising inflation, however, income raised through on-street parking charges and parking fines is spent on running parking services.
“Any surplus is spent on essential transport projects, including fixing the £11billion road repairs backlog, reducing congestion, tackling poor air quality and supporting local bus services.
“Ultimately, it is for each council to determine charges on their car parks, reflecting local circumstances, such as demand, and traffic management and parking policies.”
According to data from Your Parking Space, here’s a list of local council areas looking into changing their parking fees.
Plymouth
- Increase per hour: 50p
Plymouth has said it will charge £2 per hour for on-street parking from next month – an increase from £1.50, according to PlymouthLive.
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This will be the first time it’s increased parking prices in five years.
Newcastle
- Proposed increase per hour: 20p
Newcastle is planning to raise parking charges by 20p an hour for both on and off-street parking in the city centre.
According to the council website, Newcastle city centre prices currently range anywhere between 30p and £2.70 an hour, depending on which street you park on.
Off street car park prices on average cost £1.70 per hour – again depending on where you are.
The increase is part of a plan to slash £23million from its budget.
Leader of Newcastle City Council, Cllr Nick Kemp, said: “The increasing financial pressure on councils everywhere means that inevitably, our budgets cannot stretch as far as we would wish.
“We have taken every step to mitigate the impact of government cuts on our residents, and we are absolutely focused on supporting people and businesses in Newcastle to get through the cost-of-living crisis.”
Leicester
- Increase per hour: £1
Leicester City Council has confirmed it will charge £2 for the majority of off-street parking in 2023 – double what it costs right now.
The price of a four-hour stay will increase from £4 to £5, and six hours will go up from £6 to £7.
Parking for nine hours will increase by £2 – it currently costs £8, but it will rise to a tenner.
Parking for 12 hours currently sets you back by £9, but that will go up by £3 to £12.
Keynsham
- Increase per hour: 10p
Keynsham last month increased its hourly parking charges by 10p to reach 30p.
It also used to cost 40p to park on the street for two hours, but now it costs 60p.
Bath
- Increase per hour: 10p
This is rising from £1.60 – on-street parking now costs £1.70 an hour.
According to Your Parking Space, it has also increased minimum season ticket pricing from £51 to £105.
Winchester City
- Increase per hour: 20p
Prices will go up by 20p in the city centre – averaging from £1.40 to £1.60 for an hour.
Paul Spencer, executive director of Winchester BID, told the Hampshire Chronicle: “Increases in parking charges is not ideal during a cost of living crisis, and we want to ensure people continue to be encouraged to visit and enjoy our city centre.
“Although there are some minor increases to the most central parking in Winchester, we are very pleased to see that there are no increases for the park and ride sites and the park and walk sites.”
Norwich
- Increase per hour: 20p
Norwich Council has introduced an hourly increase of 20p in parking charge – now £2, up from £1.80.
But those who need to park for five hours will face a whopping increase of £4 – from £6 to £10.
Norwich has not increased its parking charges in five years.
Councillor Mike Stonard, cabinet member for inclusive and sustainable growth, said: “We have resisted price increases for many years and kept them low as visitors returned to the city after the pandemic, but the council is now facing significant financial challenges which means vital services will be heavily impacted if we don’t make these kinds of changes.
“These are really difficult decisions that we must consider, and we certainly don’t make them lightly.”
Wokingham
- Proposed increase per hour: 50p
Residents in Wokingham may need to start paying £1.30 per hour for parking in the new year – up from 80p, but it’s not yet confirmed.
Your Parking Space said evening charges have also been discussed and are in the proposal.
Warrington
- Increase per hour: 20p-70p
Motorists parking in Warrington car parks are now facing increases of at least 20p an hour.
Before November 21, drivers needed to pay roughly 80p for car parks an hour – now it starts at £1.
However, it depends on where in the city you park.
Harrison Woods, chief executive of the online parking portal, YourParkingSpace.co.uk, said: “Councils are currently faced with such tight budgets, and the recent Autumn Statement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, will not have allayed their fears with it looking like they will be getting a real-terms cut when compared to inflation rates which currently stand at 11%.
“I expect many more councils to hike their prices over the coming months as they try to claw back their deficits. Although the rises may seem minimal at first glance, it is another rise the public is being forced to face, especially when every penny counts right now.”
