Council approves increase to local parking charges

A meeting of the Local Area Committee considered plans to increase parking charges to raise revenue

Drivers in one borough could be forced to pay more for their parking after proposals to increase charges were approved by the council.

The Local Area Committee of Eastleigh Borough Council in Hampshire reviewed plans to increase fees and charges by up to 4.4%, at a meeting on Tuesday.

Residents could see increases in parking charges in Eastleigh introduced from October 2025 through to April 2026, if the decision passes a public consultation.

The parking fee increases proposed at Bishopstoke Road Car Park could generate a further £30,000 for the council, it claimed.

The council report said: "Eastleigh's off-street car parks have experienced a sustained decline in ticket sales and volatile income levels post-Covid.

"Despite tariff increases, revenue has not recovered in line with expectations, and footfall might suggest behavioural shifts from previous usage patterns."

The first 90 minutes of parking will remain free Monday to Friday but it will now cost £5 for up to five hours, and a full day will go from £8 to £10.

Increases at the Swan Centre and Wells Place Car Park will see a new £2 overnight charge from 18:00 to 08:00, which could generate more than £58,000 for the council.

A new flat rate overnight fee of £2 is also proposed for short stay car parks at Romsey Road and Leigh Road, while Sunday parking will remain free.

Day tariffs at the Swan Centre, Romsey Road, Leigh Road, Wells Place and Hanns Way will go up by an average of 3%.

Blue badge holders

Blue badge holders will also see changes which includes a four-hour maximum of free parking after 18:00 at Wells Place Car Park once a new overnight charge is introduced.

A resident parking permit is also being proposed for users of Mitchell Road Multi-Storey Car Park. The permit would give a discount of 50% off the current season ticket price of £1,560 for residents in certain roads that have no off-street parking.