ELMBRIDGE CONSERVATIVES, WHO NOW RUN THE COUNCIL, PROPOSE SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES IN CAR PARK CHARGES THROUGHOUT THE BOROUGH. 

At the recent cabinet meeting the Conservative administration voted to increase the car parking charges across the borough. Under pressure from Residents' Group Councillors from a number of wards, the matter was brought to full council for a vote.  The Conservatives voted unanimously to introduce the new charges, despite the efforts of our Residents' Association Councillors to press for a review before any increases are introduced. The implications for users of the Ashley Road car park in Thames Ditton village are particularly draconian. Annual parking permits, which have been a godsend for many residents without access to off-street parking, will be scrapped and the costs for parking all day will also increase dramatically.  Please be assured that our Councillors will continue the fight to reduce the size of these charge increases. 

Cllr Caroline James

e-mail: cjames@elmbridge.gov.uk

For a more detailed review of the proposed increases and their effects, see the report below to the Walton Society (Residents' Association) by Walton Central Councillor Chris Sadler, Shadow Portfolio Holder for Finance :- 

Elmbridge Borough Council's Conservative administration is proposing very significant increases in charges for the council's off-street car parks, targeting in particular those who stay longer than two hours, and season ticket holders. By way of example, an annual season ticket for any of the Council car parks in Walton Town Centre, currently priced at £1,090, will increase to £1,464 – a rise of almost 35%, effective January 2020. The cost of an annual season ticket at any of the station car parks in Elmbridge will increase from £1,417 now to £1,713.60 an increase of over 20%.
On the day car park charges will also be increased - 3 and 4 hour periods by 20% and long stay full day ticket from £6.50 to £9.50 (46%) from January 1st.
In addition, car park charging hours are proposed to be increased starting one hour earlier and continuing until one hour later. This will have significant consequences. Commuters arriving home between 6 pm and 7 pm will now be in competition with those arriving to park for an evening in Walton. Anyone who parks free in a car park overnight will now need to be up and out before 8 am. The Conservatives are also considering charging for Sunday parking.
The Conservatives also propose to end free Saturday Parking in Walton Central car parks, which the Walton Society intended to see extended indefinitely if the Residents Group still had control of the council.
The overall increase in net income from all the various measures amounts to almost £300,000 in the first year of the 3 year programme, which equates to almost 10 % of this year’s total income.
The Walton Society is strongly opposed to these proposals. They come after six consecutive years of significant increases, which have seen the cost of an annual season ticket for a station car park rise from £822 to £1417 – an increase of 72%. Over the same period, the cost of an annual season ticket in our Town Centre car parks has risen from £610 to £1090, an increase of 78%.
These increases will hit town centre workers, shoppers and commuters hard. The result will be even more drivers looking to park for free in our residential roads over a longer day, making it yet more difficult for residents to find a parking space anywhere near where they live, as well as increasing congestion. Other drivers, especially at the station car parks, may well choose to switch to alternative car parks, which offer cheaper rates at the cost of short walk. Such changes are likely to actually reduce the income from these car parks, as has happened before.
Given the cuts in Government funding for local authorities such as Elmbridge, a freeze on car parking charges is probably not a realistic option. However, we will fight these excessive price increases. We will insist that there is a period of consultation leading to a more acceptable set of increases that align better with current rates of inflation.

Chris Sadler, Elmbridge/Walton Central Councillor & Shadow Portfolio Holder for Finance
e-mail:  csadler@elmbridge.gov.uk