UPDATED – Sunday car parking charges were supposed to start in Wiltshire Council car parks throughout the county next Sunday (November 25). In an announcement on Monday morning (November 19), the Council said they were suspending the introduction of Sunday charges.
The other increases in parking fees – charges for Bank Holiday parking and season tickets – which come into force today, will still apply.
The announcement of the suspension of Sunday charges was made as part of a package of £8million of government and council money to be spent “to support towns and communities across the county.”
This programme will include repair of potholes, improve white lining, weed removal, kerb and pavement improvements, verges and improved road signage.
In Marlborough the suspension of Sunday charging will be welcomed by church goers, parents of young hockey players and, of course, retailers in the town.
It is a U-turn, but only a temporary one. There is no indication as to how long this suspension will last.
Bridget Wayman is the Wiltshire Council Cabinet member for highways: “We have listened to our local communities and businesses, and I am pleased that we have decided to use both the funding from central Government and council funding to support our local communities and towns.
“We know that the local environment matters to our communities and this programme will make those visible improvements that we all care about.
“We have listened to feedback and acted. In recent years we have increased investment in Wiltshire’s roads and this additional commitment will deliver further improvements.”
Reacting to this news, the Lib Dem Group Leader on Wiltshire Council Ian Thorn issued a statement: “I’m delighted that Wiltshire Council’s Cabinet have finally seen sense. These Sunday parking charges were a terrible idea. They would have hit our town centre residents, businesses, churches and the work of all of us who want to keep our high streets alive.”
The Lib Dem opposition group had launched a protest petition: “We already had the 5,000 signatures we needed to force a Council debate and a vote on this plan. From what I was hearing from Councillors in the different political groups, I believe we would have won that vote. No doubt the Cabinet had also worked that out.”
Councillor Thorn added: “Wiltshire Council’s Conservative Leaders need to learn a key lesson. When you consult people, you need to listen to their answer. Too often the Conservatives ignore these answers when they do not like them.”
