Norwich parking charges rise after five-year freeze

Prices are set to rise at the city council-run car parks

Car parking charges are due to rise in a city centre as a local authority looks to generate an additional £600,000 to spend on services.

Labour-run Norwich City Council said it had frozen prices at its car parks for five years, but the rise would come in from 27 October.

Almost all the council's car parks will charge £2 an hour - a rise of 70p an hour for some.

One trader feared the move would "put people off" city centre shopping.

The price hike will apply to the multi-storey car parks at St Giles Street, St Andrews on Duke Street, Rose Lane, and 11 other pay and displays.

Miriam Devlin, one of the directors of DIY company Thorns, on Exchange Street, feared her business would be affected as there was no on-street parking at her shop.

"I think it will put people off coming into the city centre for shopping - and with fuel prices going up for cars," she said.

With free parking at retail parks, she worried the rise would be a disincentive to driving into the city centre.

'Significant financial challenges'

The council said it was intended to provide "a more consistent approach to parking charges and generate essential income for the council to maintain and invest in its car parks and help to protect vital services for residents".

Mike Stonard, cabinet member for inclusive and sustainable growth, said: "We have resisted price increases for many years and kept them low as visitors returned to the city after the pandemic, but the council is now facing significant financial challenges which means vital services will be heavily impacted if we don't make these kinds of changes."

Norwich City Council's Green Party said the price rise would "encourage people to consider alternative forms of transport"

Jan Davis, Green Party councillor, said his group supported the increase in charges.

"This is clearly related to the over-use of car transport and the impact on the environment," he said.

"A change of behaviour is required in relation to how we get around Norfolk and get in and out of our urban centres - and increasing parking charges could encourage people to consider alternative forms of transport."