Local churches say they will feel the knock-on effects of Wokingham Borough Council’s plans to introduce parking charges for Sundays.
Last Thursday, the ruling executive group voted to increase the number of charged hours in the town’s car parks, and increase fees, meaning churchgoers using council car parks will have to pay to attend services.
Kings Church is one of the churches that is already concerned about the effects.
Located on Station Road, its congregation relies on being able to park in the Wokingham Borough Council offices car park opposite.
Parking is currently free all day on Sunday, as well as after 6pm on Monday to Saturday. But the planned charges, due to be brought in in January 2023, will apply every day of the week.
This means that from January, a tw- hour trip to church on a Sunday will cost £2.50.
And if congregation members stay on to chat with the community, and happen to step over the two-hour period, there will be a fee of £4.50 to park for up to four hours.
For some church events, church members might even end up paying the all day charge of £9.
Kings Church has just three parking spaces and is concerned that its activities will be seriously affected by the charges.
It is asking its community to contact their local councillors and explain their objections.
One church member said: “I’ve already had someone come up to me and say, ‘I just won’t be able to afford to come to church here, I’ll have to find another church where I don’t have to pay for parking.’
“Some of the people who come to our services and events are just about managing.
“Church is a non-political place, and I jealously guard that, but there is an issue here that really affects people.
“For some of us the parking charges might be nothing more than a minor irritation, but for those who are struggling to get by, it will make coming to church here unviable.”
They are also concerned about the effects of the charges on local businesses and facilities.
“We have these great new facilities, the new swimming pool, and the Elms Field playground,” he says, “but they are going to become off limits for those who have to drive into Wokingham.
“Only people who live within walking distance, or those who can afford to park in the town, will be able to use them.”
There are also concerns about businesses in Wokingham, whose custom may be affected by the charges.
“If I was a shop owner, I’d be seriously worried,” they continue.
“The council is being short sighted if it thinks it will collect more revenue from the increased charges.
“I believe fewer people will visit the town because of them.
“There will be less economic activity, and less footfall.
“My personal view is that this rise in parking charges hurts people who are struggling most financially, and political parties that claim to look after the poor, seem to have lost the plot.”
Paying to pray is an effect of the parking charges, that come the new year, will affect every church in the town with limited car parking space.
Wokingham Borough Council is aware that raising parking fees is unpopular.
Councillor Paul Fishwick has previously said: “We’ve always known that raising parking fees wouldn’t be popular, as this would be the first time in almost five years and small increases in the past would have lessened the impact now.
“However, we’re facing our worst financial pressures in decades.
“We have to find a way to continue maintaining our highways to the current standard – and without affecting the critical services that our more vulnerable residents rely on.”
