Parking charges could double in Chippenham
By Lois_Avery | Friday, January 21, 2011, 16:47
Parking charges in Chippenham are set to shoot up again in April.
Councillors will make their final decision next month but following a meeting last week it looks like new charges will see the price of an hour’s town centre parking rise from 50p to £1.10.
Town centre season tickets could also double in price, from £540 a year, to around £1,200 annually.
Another council meeting on February 22 will decide the fate of parking in Chippenham and changes will fall into place by April.
The consultation on parking began towards the end of 2010, when the council decided to get people’s views on what they’d like to see happen with parking.
The move came following the merge to create Wiltshire Council, with councilors keen to streamline the county’s parking systems.
During this consultation 600 people responded county-wide, making over 5,000 comments. One petition was also received.
In the Chippenham area 23 people responded and their main concerns were about parking charges and losing one hour free parking in the town.
As a result people said that shoppers are being pushed towards the out of town supermarkets. There was also some concern that parking charges might be introduced on Sundays. Another meeting in December was attended by members of the public who felt strongly enough about the proposals to question councilors about their plans.
But despite these concerns and the fact that members of the public attended a meeting in December to oppose the changes, it looks as though the council has now decided to go ahead and raise charges anyway.
What do you think about parking in Chippenham? Too expensive? And what about residents ‘parking? Surely higher fees will push people to park further out in residential streets? Do you think the council is not listening to people’s concerns?
Comments
Was in Town this morning, and it was still only 50p for the first hour. I do remember when it was free though.
By mjhudston at 09:59 on 02/04/11
ReportWatch for the rise in parking as it is the 1st of April tomorrow!!!
By London Road Guest Accommodtion at 18:49 on 31/03/11
ReportIt was the Council (or rather the District predecessor) that created the classic 'polo mint town' out of Chippenham granting all those permissions through the planning system over the years, so it only has itself to blame for the current mess. Cannot hope to revitalise the dreadful shopping experience in the centre while at the same time imposing whopping charges for the 'privilege' of doing so.
By TimboM at 13:24 on 29/01/11
ReportIt does seem rather silly to increase the parking charges. Surley we should be encouraging people into the towns to keep the centres alive with shops trading. The council rates are high enough for the business traders to find as it is but these increased charges could steer people away.
My husband pops into the town frequently during the week to go to the bank or to shop in Tescos. He has'nt a lot of time as he teaches so this is done during his lunch break so I know paying £1-20 instead of 50p for half an hour is going a bit too far.
By London Road Guest Accommodtion at 17:48 on 27/01/11
ReportWhy are they doing this? It will be one of two headline excuses. It is either to drive people out of their cars and onto public transport, so they're being "green", or alternatively it really is just another grab at our wallets. The first excuse, the idea that if you beat us up hard enough on the cost of parking, we will choose to walk or go by bus, is not going to work. Those people that can walk in, will be doing so anyway and their decision will be influenced by the weather and the load they expect coming back, not by parking charges.There is documented evidence that it hasn't worked to date in Chippenham. The out of town stores got a real boost and more of the town centre shops were driven under. If it is a wallet grab, this isn't going to help either if the council lose any more of the multi-thousand pound council taxes from the now defunct town centre businesses.
By Andy_Meredith at 20:42 on 23/01/11
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