A DECISION to increase the borough’s car parking charges has been approved by Wokingham’s ruling executive, bringing an end to free parking in evenings and on Sundays.
New fees will be brought in at Wokingham Borough Council-owned car parks in Wokingham, Woodley, Earley, Shinfield, Winnersh, Finchampstead, Twyford and Wargrave, following the decision made on Tuesday, March 21.
Cllr Paul Fishwick (Liberal Democrats, Winnersh) executive member for transport and highways, said: “The last time off-street car park charges were raised in Wokingham was over five years ago, despite the rising costs of providing the service.
“The previous administration didn’t keep pace with those costs.”
He went on to accuse the previous Conservative administration of financial mismanagement, and curbing revenue by not increasing fares.
Cllr Fishwick said: “We are now picking up the consequences of their lack of action. Small increases in the past would have lessened the impact now.
“However, we are facing our worst financial pressures in decades, and we must find a way of continuing to maintain our highways to come to standard, including the filling of potholes.”
Voicing her support, Cllr Rachel Bishop-Firth (Liberal Democrats, Emmbrook) argued a balance had been struck between managing council finances and retail and service workers such as shop staff and hairdressers.
The executive member for equalities, inclusion and fighting poverty said: “It is really important that we keep the costs as low as we can, and I think what we’ve done here is find a really good balance between looking after the finances of the council and accommodating those lower paid workers.”
There is no date for the implementation of the increases due to physical and software changes that need to be undertaken, but it will happen later this year.
However, Wokingham Conservatives have committed to reversing the parking restrictions and the Liberal Democrat led administration’s decision to end weekly bin collections in elected.
According to budget projections, the council hopes to raise £700,000 in revenue from the parking charges from the 2024/25 financial year onwards.
It is expected to cost £50,000 to implement the change, which involves updating signs in all of the affected car parks.
