Wiltshire Liberal Democrats are strongly opposing plans to increase charges at council run car parks across the county.

Wiltshire Liberal Democrat leader Ian Thorn said: “When the costs of living are going up for Wiltshire residents, the council should not be hitting them with higher charges for parking.”

Conservative-led Wiltshire Council is planning to make disabled Blue Badge holders pay for parking, increase all charges by 10p per hour, introduce charges for Sunday parking as well as big rises for car park season ticket holders. 

The plans will be voted on at the Council meeting on Tuesday at Trowbridge Civic Centre. The Lib Dems have put forward an amendment to remove the cuts and instead reduce a £1m ‘high street budget’ that has been instigated by the council’s Conservative leadership.    

Ian Thorn said: “It is particularly cruel to levy charges on disabled Blue Badge holders who need to drive into towns to stock up on supplies.

“Meanwhile, putting up costs for everyone and Sunday charging could backfire and leave the council worse off if people stop using car parks because of the higher charges.”

Lib Dem shadow finance spokesperson Cllr Gavin Grant said “Increasing car parking charges will drive shoppers and visitors away from our high streets at a time when traders and hospitality venues are struggling to recover from the impact of Covid.

“It is much better to reduce the high street budget that ironically provides no direct benefit to our high streets, business associations or the county’s residents.”

In assessing the Lib Dem proposal, Wiltshire Council’s officers have said that “from a purely financial perspective, the proposal would reduce the risk to the council”. This is because the proposal would avoid the potential fall off in demand for car parking if prices rise.

Many town councils, business groups and residents have reacted angrily to the planned car parking rises.

Bradford on Avon mayor and councillor Sarah Gibson has written to council leader Richard Clewer, saying: “Wiltshire’s identity is built on its market towns, and they are struggling post-Covid to maintain their active centres.

“Increasing parking charges is a misjudged saving which will keep people away rather assist the independent traders who need the support.”

Cllr Richard Clewer, Leader of Wiltshire Council, said: "The proposed changes to our parking services will follow the strategy set out in our Local Transport Plan, better reflect current inflation levels, recover some operational costs and harmonise some of the charges across the county.
“We have not increased parking charges in four years, and I have no intention to increase prices again in the next four years, so we propose to add 10p per hour on every tariff in all of our car parks; introduce charging at Castle Combe car park; and introduce charging for all Blue Badge holders – and these three proposals will be subject to a statutory public consultation through the Traffic Regulation Order process before any decision is made.
“The remaining proposals, which we will seek public feedback on through the usual budget setting process, will include the introduction of charging in our car parks on Sundays; the removal of free parking after 3pm in Culver Street, Salisbury; and an increase in charges for visitor permits in on-street residential zones.
“I would encourage people to have their say through the consultation processes to let us know their views.
“These proposed increases in charges will ensure that we can continue to successfully provide suitable and adequate parking throughout the county, while also supporting vital services such as rural buses.”

In Melksham, the town’s deputy mayor Cllr Colin Goodhind said: “Any increase in car parking charges is not going to be welcome anywhere. I can’t really comment any further until we have got more information.”

In Westbury, town councillors plan to discuss the proposed increases at their highways, planning and development committee meeting on Monday, February 21.

In Trowbridge, the town council’s chief executive Lance Allan says they don’t have a policy position on the parking charges increase.

He said: “I am sure the council will be disappointed to lose the free days but as most people in Trowbridge use the multi–storey, Shires, St Stephen’s Place, Cradle Bridge, Sainsbury and Tesco it doesn’t have as much impact.

In Warminster, the town council operates a parking partnership scheme which refunds up to two hours of shoppers parking charges in its bid to attract people into the town centre.