Wokingham

After four years of static car parking rates, Wokingham District Council has reviewed its car parking charges. As car parking charges for the district’s council-run car parks have not increased for four years, the council is considering increasing charges, generating income which will be ploughed into frontline services, reducing the pressure on the council tax payer.

At a special meeting of the decision-making executive held last night (August 10), members considered a report recommending increases at the Wokingham and Woodley town centre car parks, which could generate an expected £172,000 of income per annum.

It is anticipated that the proposed new charges will be advertised through the local press and at the car parks concerned from August 16. Residents and other interested parties are invited to comment by September 8. The comments will be reviewed and the outcome reported to the September 28 meeting of the executive. Depending on the outcome, the changes could be implemented at the start of October 2006.

“It is this sort of difficult decision that we have to make if the council is to keep future council tax increases as near to the rate of inflation as possible,” said Cllr Anthony Pollock, executive member for highways and transport.

“The council is committed to that difficult balancing act of protecting and enhancing where possible key services, whilst continuing to keep a firm control on the financial pressures. This is not a mean feat when earlier this year we received the lowest government settlement in six years.”

Anyone who would like to comment on the proposal to change car park charges should write to Environment Services at Wokingham District Council, Shute End, Wokingham, Berkshire RG40 1WL or email environmentalp&h@wokingham.gov.uk by September 8.

Wokingham District Council