MORE than 40 businesses in Woodley have signed a letter expressing concerns at plans to raise parking prices in the borough next year.
Wokingham Borough Council’s ruling executive have approved a raft of increases that see some prices more than double.
Other money-saving changes include axing caddy liners for food waste bins.
The Lib Dem-run administration point to the changing financial picture facing councils across the country, as energy bills and inflation affect the amount of money they have available to fund essential services including social care.
And in the chancellor’s autumn statement expected today, local authorities are expected to be allowed to raise council tax by around 8% in total. The decision comes days after Kent County Council and Hampshire County Council wrote to Jeremy Hunt to warn him they face financial difficulties in two years if funding arrangements are not changed.
The letter, which is printed in full on page 14, expresses disappointment that the council “did not consult any of us” before the proposals to increase parking charges were met.
The businesses argue that they face financial pressures from the cost-of-living crisis, as energy bills are higher than domestic customers, and the cost of borrowing has gone up.
They also have concerns for staff who have to pay to park before turning up for their shifts.
“On one side our costs are increasing dramatically whilst on the other side our customers have less and less to spend. So, increasing these car park charges massively simply eats into those customers ability to spend with us,” the letter notes, warning that customers turned off by the parking charges will buy more online or switch to places with free parking.
“We urge Wokingham Borough Council to reconsider these increases to help businesses survive through these turbulent financial times,” the letter adds.
The signatories include Domino’s Pizza, Leightons Opticians, Lidl, Iceland Foods, Specsavers Woodley, and Woodley News.
A council meeting this evening will include a debate on a petition on the proposals. It was handed in at last month’s meeting and was signed by more than 4,000 people.
It calls on the council to drop the increases due to the cost-of-living crisis, to support retailers and encourage active town centres.
A report on the debate will be published on our website, Wokingham.today, on Friday.
