A Wokingham restaurateur is urging business in the town to fight back against the parking charge increase which will be introduced next week.
Wokingham Borough Council owned car parks will see new prices from Tuesday, June 20. The new fees include charges for evening and Sunday parking, as well as increases for short- and long-term stays.
It is the first rise in five years, and the council says it has no choice due to the financial pressures it is currently facing.
But Raja Majid, owner of Sultan Indian in Market Place, is hoping other businesses will join him in helping visitors to the town centre.
“While we understand the reasoning behind Wokingham Borough Council’s decision to increase parking charges, we also know our customers are facing difficult decisions every day,” he said.
“We have to do whatever we can to help them choose Wokingham over neighbouring towns.”
He’s urging other town centre businesses to join him to attract more people to Wokingham, either by offering to refund parking costs or other initiatives.
Majid added: “I’ve mentioned our plans to a couple of businesses and they’re very keen to join us and get involved.”
The Sultan Indian restaurant will refund parking charges of up to £2.50 during the day, and £1 between 6pm and 10pm. Customers need to provide a receipt for their parking, or a photograph of the ticket.
The refund will be in the form of a deduction from bills in excess of £20 for all diners, and for those collecting takeaway orders from the restaurant.
Daytime charges in Wokingham town centre car parks are set to rise this week to £1.30 for up to an hour, £2.50 for up to two hours, £4.50 for up to four hours, £6.50 for up to six hours and £7 for over six hours. Cars parked between 6pm and 10pm will be charged at £1.
Explaining the increases, Councillor Paul Fishwick, executive member for active travel, transport and highways on Wokingham Borough Council, said: “In our current financial position, we have had to make tough choices, and raising car park charges is one of them.
“There has been no increase to parking charges since April 2018, and so residents, businesses and visitors have enjoyed cheaper parking for longer, rather than the gradual increases seen in other areas.
“The time has now come though for the price to be raised, to cover the shortfall in the service area, so from next week, you will start to see the new charges being introduced.
“We are not immune to the cost of living crisis, and, like residents, are having to make difficult choices to make sure we can keep providing our most essential services.”
