Chichester council car park prices could rise
- Published
The cost of parking in Baffins Lane Car Park could be impacted
Proposed price increases at Chichester District Council-owned car parks have been recommended for approval.
At a cabinet meeting, a consultation was discussed about plans for a 6.7% increase on pay and display tariffs and a 6.5% season ticket rise.
The increases would see the cost of parking for up to three hours in central Chichester, at Little London or Baffins Lane, rise from £6.60 to £7.
In short-stay car parks the cost would rise from £5.20 to £5.50.
Parking for up to 10 hours at long-stay car parks, such as Cattle Market and Northgate, could also rise from £7.90 to £8.40.
Other proposed changes would see charges introduced in rural car parks on Sundays, and Sunday tariffs in city centre long-stay car parks charged at the Monday to Saturday rate.
Drivers could also be charged for parking in short-stay car parks up to 20:00 GMT, rather than the current 18:00 GMT - although there would be no change at Cattle Market, Basin Road and Avenue de Chartres.
'A real deterrent'
Only five people responded to the consultation, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
One said: "Chichester has become a really poor shopping centre, with multiple closed shops, many closed for a long time.
"The city needs all the help it can get to restore its former vitality and constant increases in parking charges are a real deterrent to this.
"The proposal to extend charges to the evening will not only adversely impact pubs and restaurants in the city, but also penalise grossly [and] unfairly visitors to residents in the city centre."
'Very emotive subject'
Harsha Desai, the council's cabinet member for growth and place, said: "This has been a very emotive subject, especially during the consultation period.
"But going forward I just think we need to make things simpler and easier for everyone who uses our car parks."
The cabinet's recommendation will be put to the next meeting of the full council and, if approved, the proposed changes would come into effect on 1 April.
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