Battle over Burdwood lost as parking charges are brought in

Members of West Berkshire Council overview and scrutiny management commission made the decision to introduce charges that ended months of doubt.
In May, the district council announced plans to charge for parking in two car parks. Fees were introduced at Gilbert Court, Brownsfield Road, but, following complaints from the town council and a petition set up by the Burdwood Surgery, signed by staff and patients, West Berkshire Council agreed that further consultation would take place before any changes were made at Burdwood.
The tariffs were reduced and a longer initial period of free parking suggested, but most town councillors were still unhappy.
During a recent meeting, a response was given to a freedom of information request by Thatcham Central member Richard Crumly (Con), who had asked for figures relating to the financial implications of introducing parking charges. The response revealed that it would cost £1,535.76 a year for car park cleaning and litter removal and £500 initial set up for both ticket machines, but it was predicted that £1,220 a year would be made in revenue.
However, officers added that the first five months at Gilbert Court had made £873, which could equate to £2,095 for a full year, and the decision to introduce the charges was passed.
Following the meeting, Liberal Democrat ward member for Thatcham Central, David Rendel, claimed that the Tory-led council had stuck to its guns to save the embarrassment of having to retract the idea.
He said: “I’m disappointed with the decision made – it’s a very silly, awful waste of money.
He also said that the car parks that now charged were often empty when they used to be full.
“It is also a bit of a waste of council space and not very helpful to the community,” he added.
Town and district councillor Roger Croft (Con, Thatcham South and Crookham) said that charges were needed to make sure the car parks were available to people using the town centre rather than full of commuters using the railway station.
He said: “It’s a shame that parking charges have to be introduced anywhere but we have to protect people who use the surgery, the church and the community centre. Parking fees are common practice everywhere nowadays and the two hours free will protect the local shops.”
Parking charges: free for up to two hours, 80p for three hours and £2 for more than three hours.