The cost of parking in Wokingham borough is set to rise again next month.
From July 1, it will cost drivers an extra 10p to park in any of the council-owned car parks for up to two-hours.
Last week, Wokingham Borough Council published a public notice advising of its intentions. In Wokingham town centre car parks, the price for parking for up to one hour will rise to £1.40, and to £2.60 for up to two hours.
Parking charges outside the town centre will rise to £1.10 for up to one hour, and to £2.10 for up to two hours.
The latest move comes following a decision by the council at its February 2024 meeting to bring in the increases.
In June 2023, Wokingham Borough Council introduced a raft of changes to off-street parking, which included an extension of the hours and days when parking charges are in force. Prior to that, the cost to park for an hour in a town centre car park was 80p, and £1.20 for two hours.
Those increases were the first since 2018, but will now mean that within 13 months, the cost of parking for one hour in Wokingham town centre will have risen by 75%”.
Wokingham Today approached numerous retailers in the town, none of whom were supportive of the latest decision.
Illustrating the views of many was Michael Flint of Wokingham Decor.
His family owned business in Peach Street has been operating in the town for more than 30 years, and he said the current retail environment is the worst he has seen.
He said: “This latest cost, although small, is just another reason for people not to shop in Wokingham.
“The council is taking the ‘p’, quite literally, with this latest increase.”
Cllr Peter Harper, the Conservative spokesperson for highways, told Wokingham Today: “The Lib Dems frequently highlight the cost of living crisis, but at every opportunity they raise taxes and reduce services – which hits the poorest the hardest.
“This further rise in parking costs will impact the low paid who work in Wokingham, or who come for their shopping.
\”The town centre businesses are suffering from ever increasing parking charges which have hit their trade.
“The Conservatives pledged to roll back these parking charge increases, and bring life back to the town centres.”
Cllr Rachel Burgess, leader of the Labour group at Wokingham Borough Council, told Wokingham Today: “Under the Conservatives, rather than the regular incremental increases implemented by other councils, parking charges were not raised for five years.
“This was part of the reason for the big shock last year when charges were increased.
“As much as this will be an unwelcome rise, most residents will understand that charges must keep pace with the need to fund the cost of maintaining car parking facilities.
“No one wants to see essential services cut to pay for car park maintenance.”
Cllr Mark Ashwell, the executive responsible for town centre development at Wokingham Borough Council, added: “I absolutely hear everything that is being said about the car parking charges in our town centres.
“With this in mind, I am looking to be very proactive in supporting our businesses and their customers over the coming months.”
A council spokesperson told Wokingham Today: “The decision was made to increase off-street parking charges as part of the council’s budget setting process .. which was approved by the full council at its February 22 meeting.”
The spokesperson pointed out that driving, and therefore parking, is not the only way to get to our town and village centres.
“We encourage everyone to consider more sustainable ways of getting around the borough, such as walking, cycling or taking the bus.”
Addressing concerns the latest increases will drive more shoppers to other towns, the spokesperson said: “Our advertised price increases remain competitive with our neighbours.
“Season tickets offer alternative cheaper solutions that can be budgeted for by paying monthly, three monthly, six monthly or annually.”
