Row breaks out over Wiltshire parking charge increases

The new charges came under scrutiny on Thursday, January 15 when members of the Wiltshire Environment Select Committee met to discuss the contents of the Parking Plan 2026-30 and Parking Tariffs.

Martin Smith, cabinet member for highways, told the committee that the proposed tariffs were recommendations from council officers, and that they would be discussed by the Liberal Democrat-led Cabinet before going to public consultation.

"If strong arguments are made against them, we will adapt accordingly," he said.

Cllr Smith said the price of parking in the county had not gone up in four years.

"From early 2022 until now, compound inflation on goods and services has been 28 per cent, but parking charges have not been increased by a penny," he said

"That's why we need a significant increase. The parking service needs to cover its cost, and it needs to make a contribution to public transport costs, otherwise other services suffer."

Under the proposals, a two-year review would be implemented - which should ensure that the cost of parking would not fall so far behind the rate of inflation.

He explained that the cost of maintaining a parking service - from paying parking wardens to sending business rates to government based on the value of the car park - had all risen.

In fact, over the next two years the shortfall in parking revenue without an increase in parking charges is predicted to be £175,000 a year.

Besides tariffs, the parking plan incudes a number of other recommendations, including bringing Sunday parking prices in line with weekdays, extending the paid parking period in the county's car parks, reviewing the price of car park permits and residents' parking schemes, and updating variable message signage - digital signs that inform drivers of the number of spaces in car parks - in Salisbury.

Nick Holder (Conservative Bowerhill) wanted to know whether dynamic pricing - where the cost of services goes up or down based on real-time demand - had been considered.

"Technology has advanced significantly and you are missing an opportunity," said Cllr Holder, who was the council's cabinet member before the May elections, when the Conservatives lost control of the council.

Cllr Holder also expressed concerns at the "lack of empirical evidence" in the reports.

Adrian Hampton, the council's head of highways, said the report was based on the "extensive knowledge" of the highways team, some of whom had monitored the impact over many years of increases in parking charges.

He said the current car park technology would not support dynamic pricing, although this would be re-examined for the next parking plan covering the period 2030-2034.

For the same reason, he said, basing pricing on the emissions of a vehicle was not feasible - yet.

Bill Parks (Conservative, Warminster North) was worried about the proposal to extend times of paid parking to between 7am and 7pm. "What effect will that have on night time economy?" he asked "Many theatres and art centres start at seven."

Zoe Clewer (Conservative, Redlynch and Landford) a self-confessed "card-carrying Christian" said she was "concerned about impact of aligning Sunday parking charges on Christian worshippers."

"Those that worship on a Sunday will be there 52 times a year for the Sunday services," she said.

"I really do think that these parking charges beggar belief."

Bridget Wayman (Conservative, Nadder Valley) wanted to know about the impact on car parks of the recent introduction of free parking for Blue Badge holders in council car parks.

"Has there been an increase in the number of Blue Badge holders parking in our car parks, has there been a sufficient number of car parking spaces, and will we have to increase them to now meet the demand?" she asked.

"Because Blue Badge holders don't buy a ticket we don't know," admitted Mr Hampton. "Feedback from users suggests there's been no extra demand for Blue Badge parking.

"But within parking plan there is a view of disabled parking provision and where spaces are located, and we will be consulting with disability groups."

Kevin Asplin (Reform UK, Amesbury East & Bulford) said: "Before you have a plan you first have a mission. What's the mission here? If the mission is to increase car parking charges and get some more money out of the pockets of motorists then this plan is a doozy."

"Parking funds rural bus network and highways services," Mr Hampton responded. "That's the consideration we have to make."