Parking charges at two Wokingham country parks have risen by more than 10% this week.
Parking for one hour at Dinton Pastures and California Country Park has risen from £2.00 to £2.30, from £4.00 to £4.60 for two hours, from £6.00 to £6.90 for three hours, and from £8.00 to £9.20 for more than four hours.
Season tickets, and charges for coach parking have also increased.
Justifying the increases, Cllr Ian Shenton, Wokingham Borough Council’s executive member for environment, sport and leisure, told Wokingham Today: “The council needs to strike a difficult balance between the cost of providing services and the available funding.
“Small increases are being applied across a number of areas, as reviewed by the cross-party overview and scrutiny committees, and agreed as a part of the overall council budget by the full council earlier this year.
“Specifically in relation to Dinton and California country parks, these facilities continue to be self-funding.
“As there are no entrance charges, the majority of their funds come from parking charges.
“In recent years, the Council has invested considerable capital sums to improve these facilities.”
He added average prices here are in line with, or cheaper than, nearest competitors such as Alice Holt in Surrey, and Queen Elizabeth Country Park in Hampshire.”
Cllr Charles Margetts, Conservative spokesperson for highways and transport. said: “We believe Wokingham Borough Council should be putting its own house in order before raising further stealth taxes on residents.
“A hike in parking charges will hit families hard as we head towards the summer, and it will also encourage further parking on nearby estates.”
Cllr Andy Croy, leader of the Labour group on Wokingham Borough Council, said parking charges at Dinton and California were introduced by the Conservatives.
“The rationale for the raises under the Conservatives was always the same – the council needs the money to pay for the upkeep of the car parks.
“The rationale is the same now. Maintaining the car parks costs more money, therefore more money is needed.
“No one likes it. I don’t like it. I don’t want to pay more either, but I understand why council officers have told the Liberal Democrats that this is what they must do.”
