Two of Westbury’s Wiltshire councillors, Gordon King and Carole King, have hit out at the decision of Wiltshire Council to raise the cost of car parking permits by ‘inflation-busting’ amounts.
The permits in the town’s car parks will be rising by 38% in the Warminster Road Car Park, 22% in the High Street Car Park and 20% at Westfield House Car Park in Bratton Road, an average increase of 27%.
“The serious hike in permit charges by Wiltshire Council has made these permits unaffordable and has seriously reduced the number of permit holders,” said Cllr Gordon King. “This is irresponsible.”
“The whole object of the permit was to provide spaces for those who live in town houses along Warminster Road, Haynes Road and West End that were both affordable and secure. Instead, Wiltshire Council has a policy of using car park revenues, including permits, to help balance the revenue budget whilst disregarding and undermining the social and economic value of car parks and car parking.
“Everywhere in Westbury there are congested residential roads near the council car parks, blighting communities because residents with stretched budgets cannot afford these irresponsible increases that also undermine the health and vitality of the town centre.
“I am far from impressed with this parking policy.
“This inflation-busting increase has come at the wrong time for many residents already struggling to balance household accounts because prices remain stubbornly high. Higher permit prices and blue badge parking charges are hitting hardest those who probably need help the most.”
Cllr Carole King said that, “Higher charges, including permit charges, only serve to make sure that market town car parks are empty, damaging the local economy”.
Both councillors have called on the Conservative administration to rescind these increases, saying, “They do not come into effect until 2nd September, so there is time to think again before too much damage is done.”
Cllr Nick Holder, Wiltshire Council’s cabinet member for highways commented, “These off-street residents’ parking permits are part of an historic arrangement that was put in place by the former district council. In 2010, the Cabinet decided that these permits should be phased out as part of creating a unitary council to avoid duplicate schemes operating in the car parks, with residents permits operating alongside season tickets. Currently, across Wiltshire there are 48 permits affected by this change, three of which are in Westbury.
“We have taken a phased approach to the harmonisation of the rates, with the residents’ permit price increased incrementally each year so that it is eventually the same price as a season ticket. All permit holders received a letter last month making them aware of the changes and explaining the reasons for it.”
Cllr Gordon King is deputy leader of the Liberal Democrat group of councillors on Wiltshire Council whilst Cllr Carole King is chair of the Westbury Community Area Board.
