Free parking in Salisbury car park ends and Wiltshire Council brings back Sunday fees
Changes to parking begin today
From today (April 1st) you'll no longer be able to take advantage of free parking in Salisbury's Culver Street car park.
After almost eight years the 'free after 3pm' scheme has been scrapped.
It was introduced in June 2014 after lobbying from Salisbury BID but tariffs have returned as part of a series of changes Wilshire Council is making.
Sunday charges back this weekend
By far the most controversial change is the introduction of Sunday fees, last in place in 2018.
From this weekend shoppers and visitors to Salisbury will have to pay £1.90 with Chippenham the next most expensive at £1.40 and Trowbridge, Marlborough and Devizes £1.00, while in Amesbury the charge is 50p and Warminster 70p.
Residents will see visitor parking permits rise 50% from 40p to 60p along with a charge of £20 for annual visitor permits.
Tradesman and contractors will have to fork out more to park in restricted areas while working too, up £15 from £11.
And free event parking for town and parish councils has been scrapped.
More increases on the cards for Monday to Saturday
These changes were agreed by the council in February, as part of the budget-making process.
The council also wants to increase car parking charges by 10p an hour and introduce parking charges for Blue Badge holders.
Those proposals are subject to a public consultation through the traffic regulation order (TRO) process.
People will be able to have their say on these changes when the TRO consolation process begins at www.wiltshire.gov.uk/troconsultations.
Cllr Dr Mark McClelland, Cabinet Member for Transport, said:
“It’s important that people are aware of these changes to parking charges, which come into force from Friday, as it will affect how they use our car parks and on-road spaces, particularly on Sundays.
“We have not increased parking charges in four years, and we have no intention of doing so again in the next four years, but it is important that we make these changes now to follow the strategy set out in our Local Transport Plan, and also bring charges in line with inflation.
“Independently of these changes from Friday 1 April, we’re also proposing other changes to parking charges, including increasing parking by 10p for every hour per tariff in our car parks, and people can let us know their thoughts on these proposals through the traffic regulation order consultation when it begins.
“These changes will enable us to continue to invest in both parking and vital services in Wiltshire.”