501 residents sign petition to reverse parking fees in Winchester
The decision to charge for evening and overnight parking in Winchester has created a ‘crisis’ in the town – but a petition against the move will be ‘ignored'
The petition, signed by 501 people, urged Winchester City Council to abolish the new charges and rethink its policy.
One petitioner said the charge of £3.80 to park in central car parks between 7pm to 8am has ‘rocked community charities’ back on their heels and excluded those least able to afford it. It also now costs £1.80 an hour between 7pm and 8pm in the same car parks, which includes Middle Brook Street, Friarsgate and Jewry Street.
Winchester Community Choir chair David Darcy Hughes and Denis Gibson, who submitted the petition, addressed councillors at a recent meeting about the impact of the parking fees on charity, community and cultural activities in the town.
Mr Hughes said: “The cost of the evening parking charge falls heavily on those least able to afford it and excludes them from participating in community activities.”
The choir rehearses in the United Church in Jewry Street, on a Tuesday, performing two charity concerts each year. The parking charges add a minimum of £60 per year for each choir member to participate.
Councillor Kelsie Lerney, cabinet member for climate emergency at the Lib Dem-run council, said that she will continue to engage with local community groups and businesses. But she said she wouldn’t lose sight of the overall strategy to reduce traffic and emission pollution in the city while making the city centre more pleasant for residents and visitors.
She said the council will continue to monitor the footfall in Winchester and had figures from earlier in the year and from April to October where footfall was high and noted the outer edge car parks were fuller, especially Cattle Market and Chesil.
Conservative councillor Stephen Godfrey, who represents Wonston and Micheldever ward, said the petition was sure to be ignored, just as were the suggestions and feedback received in October.
He said it’s all just to raise money for the ‘council’s coffers’ while it has affected the city centre and rural life by stopping people coming in for meals, activities and church-going.