Wokingham Borough Council could be set to introduce additional charges for car parking where none currently exist.
At last week’s community and corporate overview and scrutiny meeting, an item appeared on the agenda under the title ‘Introducing charges for existing free car parks.’
It suggested that a ‘desktop assessment’ had been carried out with a view to ascertaining the projected income the council could expect from introducing new parking charges.
It noted there are 14 council-owned car parks where, historically, parking charges have not been applied.
The item was questioned by Cllr Pauline Jorgensen, leader of the Conservative group on Wokingham Borough Council.
She told Wokingham Today: “I noticed a line for ‘introducing charges’ for existing free car parks’ with a first-year revenue of £240,000 in 2025/26. This increases in subsequent years to almost half a million pounds.
“I asked the officers what car parks this would impact, and they told me it would be introduced in Avery Lane in Finchampstead, Cantley Park, Ashenbury in Woodley and School Green in Shinfield.
“Parking charges in these car parks will cause serious problems to residents, and may displace parking onto nearby residential roads.
“The car park in Shinfield is very heavily used by parents dropping off at the school, residents using local sporting facilities, and visiting local doctors and chemists.
“Introducing charges will be a blow to many local people.”
Cllr Marie-Louise Weighill, Labour member for Norreys, told Wokingham Today: “This is a response to the polycrisis facing local authorities everywhere; the steadily rising demands of adult social care and children’s services which takes up more and more of the budget, combined with cuts in central government support.
“This results in the council being required to raise revenue in ways that are unpalatable and difficult to accept.
“No one is pleased that this has to happen.”
She added that council officers presented the proposed imposition of charges to a committee of all parties and asked that, in the event of objections, an alternative source of revenue be proposed.
Wokingham Today understands that income from any additional off-street parking charges can only be used to fund the provision of parking and within highways operations.
As a result of the recent budget statement, Wokingham Borough Council is expected to find in the region of £5 million, or more, that it had not budgeted for. This relates to additional national insurance contributions and the increase in the minimum wage.
Cantley Park, off Twyford Road, is home to a number of junior and senior sports clubs, including football, archery, hockey and tennis. It is also home to Wokingham Theatre.
Claire Lawrence, chairperson at Wokingham Theatre, told Wokingham Today: “Introducing parking fees will significantly impact our patrons, and our incredible volunteers who work tirelessly to bring our shows to life.
“The impact would be particularly high on the families who are part of our youth theatre, which runs five days a week.
“We urge Wokingham Borough Council to reconsider this proposal to ensure our community theatre remains accessible and welcoming to all.”
Football pitch hire at Cantley costs in the region of £100 per match, with at least ten junior and senior junior, men and ladies football matches taking place every weekend. Teams also use the facilities to train every night of the week.
A spokesperson for Wokingham Borough Council told Wokingham Today that no plans had yet been finalised.
