Council announces increases in cost of parking

The multi-storey in Newarke Street is one the largest council-run car parks in the city

Leicester City Council has announced plans to increase the cost of parking in the city.

The authority said it needed to raise charges to address rising costs amid an ongoing "budget crisis".

It said the increases would be implemented in mid-May and would bring the authority's charges into line with those of private car park operators.

It estimated the rise would generate an additional £1.1m in parking revenue each year.

The council said it was only the second time in 10 years it had made a decision to increase parking charges.

It currently costs £2 for a one-hour stay in a city centre council-run car park but that will increase to £2.50.

Costs for a three-hour stay will rise from £4 to £5, and from £5 to £6.30 for a four-hour stay.

Standard fees for evening parking in car parks will also be charged, with the cheaper Night Owl rates due to end, the council said.

City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said the decision to increase charges had not been taken lightly

On-street parking bays will see charges rise from £2 to £2.50 for one hour, with varying charges for longer stays, depending on the location.

Free on-street parking on Sundays will be scrapped, with standard rates being charged instead.

Car parking fees at the city's parks will also rise, with costs starting at £2.20 for a two-hour stay, up from the current £2.

The council said parking charges at Victoria Park would be brought into line with other city centre car parks, starting at £1.30 for a one-hour stay - an increase of 30p.

A two-hour stay at Victoria Park will cost £2.50, up from the current £2.

City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said: "Increasing car parking charges is not a decision we take lightly.

"However, running costs across our car parks and parking services have risen and, like most councils, we continue to face a severe budget crisis.

"With this in mind, we are introducing revised parking fees and charges that are proportionate and very similar to what other operators and cities are charging for car parking.

"Any additional revenue from our parking charges is always reinvested in highways and transport maintenance and improvements."

He said the increase also reflected the rise in the national bus fare cap, from £2 to £3, in January.