Charges to double at car parks across Wokingham area

Last week, the decision making body at Wokingham Borough Council agreed to increase parking fares at its charging off-street car parks.

It means fares will rise at car parks in Wokingham, Woodley, Earley, Shinfield, Winnersh, Finchampstead, Twyford and Wargrave.

Fares will double at car parks outside of Wokingham Town, where the increases are scaled, with fares rising more for longer periods.

Proposed changes to parking charges in Wokingham Town car parks. Credit: Wokingham Borough Council

The decision to rise the parking charges was taken by the council’s Liberal Democrat led administration, called the Wokingham Borough Partnership.

The council’s executive committee, which is made up entirely of Liberal Democrats, approved the increases on Tuesday, March 21.

Councillor Paul Fishwick (Liberal Democrats, Winnersh) executive member for transport and highways, said: “The last time off-street car park charges were raised in Wokingham was over five years ago, despite the rising costs of providing the service.

“The previous administration didn’t keep pace with those costs.”

READ MORE: Plan to increase Wokingham and Woodley car parking charges gets negative response

He went on to accused the previous Conservative administration of financial mismanagement, are curbing revenue by not increasing fares.

Cllr Fishwick said: “We are now picking up the consequences of their lack of action.

“Small increases in the past would have lessened the impact now.

“However, we are facing our worst financial pressures in decades, and we must find a way of continuing to maintain our highways to come to standard, including the filling of potholes.”

Proposed changes to car park charges in Wokingham Borough outside of Wokingham Town. Credit: Wokingham Borough Council

Voicing her support, cllr Rachel Bishop-Firth (Liberal Democrats, Emmbrook) argued a balance had been struck between managing council finances and retail and service workers such as shop staff and hairdressers.

Cllr Bishop-Firth, executive member for equalities, inclusion and fighting poverty said: “It is really important that we keep the costs as low as we can, and I think what we’ve done here is find a really good balance between looking after the finances of the council and accommodating those lower paid workers.”

There is no guaranteed date for the implementation of the charge increases due to physical and software changes that need to be undertaken.

A council spokesperson said the changes are expected to come in later this year.

READ MORE: Wokingham waste collection changes including new bins and fortnightly pick ups to stay despite local opposition 

The Wokingham Conservatives have committed to reversing the parking restrictions and the Liberal Democrat led administration’s decision to end weekly bin collections in elected.

According to budget projections, the council hopes to raise £700,000 in revenue from the parking charges from the 2024/25 financial year onwards.

Meanwhile, the council is expected to spend £50,000 to implement the change, which involves updating the signs in all of the car parks affected.