Plans to introduce car park charges in towns and villages in and around Southam put on hold

Plans to introduce car park charges in towns and villages including Southam have been put on hold by Stratford District Council but a cut-price permit for the over-65s has been scrapped.

The decisions were taken at the cabinet meeting on Monday (January 11) ahead of a six-week consultation period with members of the public.

Shoppers and visitors to rural centres around the district currently benefit from free parking and Cllr Ian Shenton (Con, Wootton Wawen), the council’s portfolio holder for operations, had planned to end that.

The item on the cabinet papers had included a recommendation stating: “That the principle of charging in car parks in the main rural centres be agreed, subject to consultation with the relevant town and parish councils.”

But that was scrapped during the meeting when he explained: “It is clear that this is not the right time to consider this as the situation as regards to Covid-19 and the lack of bandwidth available to officers and staff time has deteriorated since we first put the recommendation forward.”

Other recommendations did go ahead including increases in Stratford’s car park charges which will go up from £1 to £1.20 for the first hour, and the abolition of the over-65s permit.

Cllr Shenton explained: “The increase in charges were originally proposed last year but deferred because of Covid-19.

"We are faced with a growing deficit and therefore, with a heavy heart, are having to make tough decisions on what we can afford and how we can bridge the gap in our finances.

“I note that the BID has sent a letter asking us to limit the increases and in all fairness this is what we have done - limiting to inflation in the eight years since car parking charges were last reviewed.

"The increase in charges will not have many, if any, effect on tourist numbers.”

He added that there had been a 28 per cent drop in those buying the over-65 permit last year when it was just £10 so there seemed little point in bringing the price in line with other authorities who charge up to £175.

Cllr Kate Rolfe (Lib Dem, Tiddington) said: “This is an increase that is too soon and too harsh. Any increases should happen later in the year and only if we see some upturn in the local economy.

“Abolishing this permit is a retrograde step and will have an impact on the footfall on our town. It is another nail in the coffin for the vibrancy of our town centre.

"Surely over doubling the cost would bring in more money to the council rather than dismissing the permit entirely.”

The projected net income from the proposed changes will be nearly £170,000 once operational costs have been accounted for.