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COUNCILLORS planning to increase car park fees in Wokingham are ‘punishing’ residents according the Conservatives, a claim disputed by the ruling Lib Dems.
At a council meeting held at Wokingham Borough Council on Thursday, November 17, a debate was held on the proposals, which would see people pay £1.30 for the first hour, up from 80p, £2.50 for two hours and £9 for an all-day ticket. And, for the first time, evening charges will apply.
The Conservatives organised a petition signed by more than 4,200 people. It was handed in at the October meeting, and sparked the discussion.
Introducing it, Cllr Keith Baker said the council had not carried out a consultation, but was instead relying on the Traffic Regulation Order consultation which would be launched in the near future.
“I do hope they are not trying to ‘sneak it out’ to minimise comments,” Cllr Baker said, accusing the Lib Dems of hiding the business case from public scrutiny, and were hiding problems with park and ride car parks to make their case.
Seconding the motion, Cllr Charles Margetts said the car park price rises were to subsidise park and ride services, and instead they should be spending money promoting these car parks.
Cllr Alison Swaddle said 40 businesses had signed a letter expressing concerns, while clubs meeting at venues such as the Oakwood Centre would be hit by the evening charges. She also pointed out a letter from a resident who said vulnerable women would not want to buy a ticket from a machine in the dark.
And Cllr Gregor Murray said the previous administration told council officers to find savings somewhere else rather than parking charges.
“You’re voting for a tax on low income shop workers … shame on you,” he added.
But the proposals were defended by Labour councillor Andy Croy, who reminded the chamber that the previous executive member for finance, Cllr John Kaiser, kept saying: “A broke council is no good to anybody”.
He called on the Conservatives to pledge to reduce the fees if they won back control of the council.
“We cannot allow the council’s finances to follow the country’s finances,” he said of the plan to increase the fees.
And Lib Dem councillor Prue Bray said no one wanted to pay more for parking, but the administration had no choice due to a budget gap for £4 million, and the current administration was working with the budget the Conservatives had prepared, along with their three-year medium term financial plan.
Deputy leader of the council, Cllr Stephen Conway, said that one in six councils were facing financial difficulties. Wokingham is “particularly exposed” because it received some of the lowest grants from the government, while interest rate rises make things more expensive.
“There are no easy options left, none,” he said. “We have to take unpalatable measures … car parking comes under that category.”
The petition was voted down, and Cllr Baker called on the council to raise a further motion stating how it wished to respond to the residents who had signed it.
The leader of Wokingham Conservatives, Cllr Pauline Jorgensen, called on the executive to consider the petition as residents had made their views clear, and consider feedback from businesses and the impact that the charges would have. Her motion was seconded by Cllr Murray.
Cllr Jones promised to add this to the agenda of the Executive Committee which would be held on November 24, under item 66, matters referred to the executive.
After the meeting, Cllr Jorgensen said she was glad the party had represented the views of residents and businesses.
“The Liberal/Labour Coalition didn’t bother to consult on these eyewatering rises. However, I am astonished that Labour and Liberal Democrat councillors have failed to act on the scale of opposition in our town centres.
“Local businesses are understandably unhappy and very concerned that this could put off people from coming into the town centres. Restaurants are going to be impacted significantly as the times are being extended into the evenings and Sundays.
“We know that all household budgets are under pressure in the current climate of high inflation and high energy prices, but this proposal will severely punish young workers and apprentices. In some cases, they will lose nearly two hours work just to feed the parking meter.
“I am now calling on the Council’s Executive to reconsider its disastrous policy.”
Labour’s Cllr Croy felt the debate showed the Conservatives were facing both ways on the issue.
“The Conservatives performed a screeching U-turn on car parking fees,” he said.
“They presented a petition calling for the rises to be reversed. I asked them if it was their promise to reverse the rises if they got back in power. No, it seems it is not their policy to reverse the rises, in spite of running around with a petition asking the Council to do just that.
“It is almost like they will do or say anything to get a few votes.”
And Cllr Clive Jones, the leader of Wokingham Borough Council, said the suggestion the car park rises were punishing residents was ‘absolutely wrong’ and there were additional factors at play.
“The reason car park fees are going up is there is a deficit in the Conservatives budget – that they put together and we inherited – that has to be covered.
“The Conservatives do not recognise they left the council in a poor financial state, but the fact is there is a deficit, and on top of that inflation at 11.1%. We have to ensure the financial stability of the council.”
He added: “The actions of the Conservative government will have a far, far, far greater impact on businesses in Wokingham that increases in car park charges.”
This included increases in mortgages, something he said was “a direct result of the Liz Truss/John Redwood budget”.
“If a mortgage goes up £500 a month, that’s £6,000 a year taken out of the local economy. It adds up to millions out of the local economy.”
Other factors include increases in energy costs, which remove £1,000 per household from the local economy, and failing to raise income tax bands with inflation.
“Altogether, it’s around £7,500 per year per household that the government has taken out of the local economy.”
The meeting of Wokingham Borough Council’s ruling executive will take place on Thursday, November 24.
