Parking charge changes as from this Friday, 1 April

No, it’s not a joke. Not an April fool, it’s real. Wiltshire Council have just announced what we had expected for some while – details of (some of) the changes to parking charges (and times for free parking) in all of their car parks and managed spaces across the County.

Free Sunday parking goes. As from this Sunday – 3 April – we will all have to pay in any Wiltshire Council car park. We understand (from signs) that the charge for a Sunday will be £1 all day, between 10am and 4pm, although this wasn’t included in the Wiltshire Council announcement.

Also, but not relevant on a daily or weekly basis, all Town and Parish Councils will lose their ‘free event parking’, so Wiltshire will now be able to make parking charges stick irrespective of what our Town Council is doing to encourage people in for a special event.

There are two types of changes – those that will begin from 1 April and will go ahead without any further consultation outside of the budget-making process; and other changes that will be subject to a public consultation through the traffic regulation order (TRO) process. This includes raising all car park charges by 10p per hour. The consultation process and period has yet to be announced so current rates of parking will remain for the time being.

Cllr Dr Mark McClelland, Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “It’s important that people are aware of these changes to parking charges, which come into force from Friday, as it will affect how they use our car parks and on-road spaces, particularly on Sundays.

“We have not increased parking charges in four years, and we have no intention of doing so again in the next four years, but it is important that we make these changes now to follow the strategy set out in our Local Transport Plan, and also bring charges in line with inflation.

“Independently of these changes from Friday 1 April, we’re also proposing other changes to parking charges, including increasing parking by 10p for every hour per tariff in our car parks, and people can let us know their thoughts on these proposals through the traffic regulation order consultation when it begins.

“These changes will enable us to continue to invest in both parking and vital services in Wiltshire.”