Wiltshire Lib Dems opposed the new car parking charges in Wiltshire
New parking charges will be coming into force this week across Wiltshire, which will see an extra 10p per hour added to some of the charges in the area- but not everyone is happy about it.
The changes will be made on September 2, meaning an extra 10p per hour per tariff is added to all car charges in Wiltshire Council car parks, but many believe that the changes will only make life harder for people.
Charges for blue badge holders in all council car parks will also be introduced, as well as the introduction of charging at Castle Combe car park. The changes were agreed in February, as part of the budget-making process for the financial year 2022 and 2023.
As part of the consultation process for these changes, the council received just 389 responses from members of the public, and after considering these responses, the final decision was then made by The Conservative Portfolio holder Councillor Dr Mark McClelland, Cabinet Member for Transport. He said 'the changes were agreed in February as part of our budget-making process to help us better reflect current inflation levels.
New car parking charges in Wiltshire | Wiltshire Times
Back in February this year, at the time of the budget setting process, Wiltshire Liberal Democrats stated that we are strongly opposed to 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."
Lib Dems oppose Wiltshire Council plans to increase car parking charges | Wiltshire Times
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 changes will be made on September 2, meaning an extra 10p per hour per tariff is added to all car charges in Wiltshire Council car parks, but many believe that the changes will only make life harder for people.
Charges for blue badge holders in all council car parks will also be introduced, as well as the introduction of charging at Castle Combe car park.
These charges follow on from the rises to parking charges four years ago in 2018, following a much criticised consultation on parking charges throughout the county, Conservative led Wiltshire Council then decided to implement their Option One plan and raise charges for on street and off street parking by an average of 11.8 per cent.