Dismay at new parking charges

Businesses across the county have expressed dismay after Wiltshire Council announced new parking charges for market towns, which come into force on Monday, July 5.

In Calne, visitors to the Church Street car park will see the fee for up to two hours increase from 30p to 50p, while up to four hours will cost 70p, up from 50p.

In Devizes, Northgate Street, Couch Lane, Sheep Street, Vales Lane and West Central car parks will lose their rate of 55p-per-hour rate, which increased to 60p per hour after the second hour. The following rates will apply: one hour 55p, two hours £1.30, three hours £1.90, four hours £2.50, five hours £3.10, six hours £3.70, seven hours £4.30, eight hours £4.90, nine hours £5.50, ten hours £6.10.

At Sainsbury’s car park, where parking cost 55p per hour for the first two hours, and £2 per hour thereafter, the following rates will apply: one hour 55p, two hours £1.30, three hours £3.30, four hours £5.30, six hours £7.30, six hours £9.30, seven hours £11.30, eight hours £13.30, nine hours £15.30, ten hours £17.30.

At Station Road car park, where charges are 45p per hour or £2.70 all day, the tariff will now be 45p for one hour, £1.10 for two, £1.55 for three, £2 for four, £2.45 for five hours, or £2.90 to park all day.

In Malmesbury, the one hour charge at Station Road car park remains the same, at 40p, but the charge for up to four hours will be increased from 50p to 70p, and over four hours will cost £1.20, up from £1.

At Cross Hayes, the 40p for one hour, 50p for the second hour tariff is replaced by a 40p for one hour, 70p for the second hour fee.

Most Marlborough car parks will be saying goodbye to its 55p-per-hour rate, which increased to 60p per hour after the second hour. At George Lane, Hyde Lane and Kennet Place (Saturdays only), the following rates will apply: one hour 55p, two hours £1.30, three hours £1.90, four hours £2.50, five hours £3.10, six hours £3.70, seven hours £4.30, eight hours £4.90, nine hours £5.50, ten hours £6.10.

At Polly Gardens and Hillers Yard, where parking cost 55p per hour for the first two hours, and £2 per hour thereafter, the following rates will apply: one hour 55p, two hours £1.30, three hours £3.30, four hours £5.30, six hours £7.30, six hours £9.30, seven hours £11.30, eight hours £13.30, nine hours £15.30, ten hours £17.30.

Charges at Marlborough High Street will be increased from 75p per hour (maximum two hours) to 75p for the first hour and £1.70 for the second hour.

The one hour charge at Borough Fields, Wootton Bassett, remains 20p, but all other charges have been increased by 20p per hour, with two hours costing £1, three hours costing £1.50, four hours costing £2, five hours costing £2.50, up to eight hours costing £3.80 and over eight hours costing £5.10. The same tariffs have been levied at Wood Street car park.

Chambers of Commerce have slammed the new charges, saying they do nothing to encourage shoppers to market towns, or to help the lowest-waged workers.