CONTROVERSIAL increases in car parking charges by Wiltshire Council are set to result in a loss of income of half a million pounds.

Just three months after the charges were introduced the Conservative run council says fewer motorists are using the council’s car parks and is predicting a potential shortfall of income of £500,000.

The new charges, which are deeply unpopular among businesses who say trade has been affected as a result, were designed to bring in just under an extra £1.5 million in car parking revenue to the council.

Part of the income from the increased parking charges was to go to bus companies to subsidise services following a cut in Government funding.

The new charges vary across towns in Wiltshire and in some towns free parking was lost.

Michael Hudson, chief finance officer at Wiltshire Council, said in a report to the council’s Cabinet on Tuesday (July 26): “A review of car parking income has identified that assumed user numbers are currently down overall on previous years in total, although the levels vary across the whole county.

“Due however to the increase in charges the level of income shortfall is proportionately less than the fall in usage. At this stage it is unclear if user numbers will pick up and this is just an initial reaction to the increase or part of a wider economic position. As such an estimate only has/can be made at this point, that being a shortfall of potentially £0.5 m.”

Figures from the council show that occupancy rates in council car parks since the charges were introduced in mid April have fallen.

In West Central car park in Devizes occupancy has fallen 40 per cent to 61 per cent; in Bath Road, Chippenham, it has fallen by 30 per cent to 38 per cent; in Church Street, Calne, it has fallen from 63 per cent to just 3 per cent and in George Lane, Marlborough, it has fallen from 70 per cent to 38 per cent.

Council leader Jane Scott claimed the fall in spending in shops in Wiltshire was not due to the increased car parking charges but the economic situation generally. She also said bus usage had gone up considerably.

At the Cabinet meeting, held in Trowbridge, she said: “The economy for retailers has changed considerably, particularly in the last four to five months.”

Councillor Dick Tonge, Cabinet member for transport , said: “We have checked neighbouring councils, in Romsey, Stockbridge, Southampton and Poole and car parking is down in those towns, it’s not unique to Wiltshire.

“People are concerned, their budgets are being stretched and they are using their cars less because petrol has gone up.”

However Councillor Jon Hubbard, the leader of the Liberal Democrats on the council, said: “You imposed these ridiculous car parking increases against the advice of retailers, communities and the opposition. We called for it to be changed.

“You knew at the time the damage this would do. Don’t hide behind ‘economic conditions have changed’. The current economic conditions were there when you imposed these charges.”

The Cabinet did agree to consult with chambers of commerce, town councils and bodies representing independent retailers to see whether there is support for a car parking redemption scheme in towns.

The Cabinet had been recommended to implement a scheme across Wiltshire but after hearing that some towns were not interested the Cabinet agreed to carry out a rapid consultation exercise.

If towns do want such a scheme it would be for them to decide how much participating traders pay back to motorists who spend money in their shop.

Wiltshire Council has set aside £50,000 to implement a scheme. This would be used to change car parking machines, signs and publicity material.