Drivers protest brutal parking hikes as council rakes in thousands - 'People simply cannot afford it'
The council made £11,824 from the price increases
GETTY
Drivers have been left furious over absurd parking increases within a local authority that have affected both residents and businesses alike.
Canterbury City Council has come under fire for its decision to increase parking fees in School Lane, Herne, from £2.20 to £15.
The move, which was originally thought to be an April Fool's joke as it was unveiled on April 1, has been met with huge backlash from residents.
The change also saw a new £1.90 hourly rate introduced, the previous preferred prices were 60p for 30 mins or £1.10 for two hours.
Do you have a story you'd like to share? Get in touch by emailingmotoring@gbnews.uk
More than 1,200 residents have signed the petition to remove the parking hikes
PABut the very real hourly parking increases have been hit by heavy criticism from residents who resorted to launching a petition calling for a reduction in prices.
The petition protested the near seven-fold rate increase in parking and has already amassed over 1,200 signatures.
It said: “This is backed up by over 200 signatures/statements from angry locals and other visitors to the village. This ePetition runs from 11/06/2024 to 24/10/2024.”
Council documents regarding the parking increases detailed how most respondents objected to the proposal and the proportion that supported it was low, at under 10 per cent.
It added warned that many locals felt the charges were too expensive and that it would likely reduce spending in businesses along the high street.
“There was strong objection to the increase in School Lane car park which was described as an essential facility due to the restricted options for parking elsewhere,” it described.
The Telegraph detailed how since the parking hikes, the site has almost doubled its revenue for the council.
Rob Davies, Canterbury City Council spokesperson, told GB News: “We accept that the change in approach to car park banding has resulted in an increase in prices at School Lane.
“But we have continued to allow free parking for the morning school run and in the evening for events at the Herne Centre. And residents are able to apply for an off-street residents’ permit which offers good value for all year-round parking.”
Since the price increase in April, the council has raked in £11,824 from the School Lane car park, up from £6,278 which was collected at lower rates.
Carol Davis, the chairman of Herne and Broomfield parish council, labelled the parking fees as “ridiculous”.
She stated: “What the city council doesn’t seem to get is that ours is a community car park and can’t be put in the same bracket as ones in Canterbury, other town centres and on the coast.
“I am really not surprised the number of people using School Lane has dropped so dramatically because people simply cannot afford it.”
“It is having a huge effect on village life and causing great difficulties for so many people. Even simple things like visiting the community centre, pub, church or post office have become much more expensive.”
Councillor Alex Ricketts explained that parking in School Lane is one of the cheapest car parks in the district and that the increased fees would bring it in line with car parks in the same band elsewhere.
He added: “All parking charges are reviewed annually and as part of that process, this autumn we will consider what impact the change at School Lane has had.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Canterbury City Council raised prices in April
GETTY“When the new charges were introduced in April this year, we continued to allow free parking for the morning school run and in the evening for events at the Herne Centre.”
You may like
