Free Sunday parking in Newbury likely to end

Council puts brakes on free Sunday parking with introduction of £1 charge

AN end to free parking on Sundays in Newbury looks to be in sight as West Berkshire Council seeks to claw back revenue lost from a drop in car-parking income and fines.

New proposals mean it would cost £1 to park in a Newbury car park on Sunday.

The council's parking policy stated the intention was to charge seven days a week once a review had taken place, and now the move is likely to be passed at a full district council meeting next Thursday (22).

The timing of the move comes after the recent announcement of a £427,000 total overspend from three directorates; adult social care, planning and countryside, and children's services, and ahead of next month's opening of the Parkway shopping and residential site in the town.

A drop in car-parking income has resulted in a shortfall of around £150,000, and with the opening of the Parkway retail complex in Newbury just weeks away the council hopes the show-piece shopping centre and the newly introduced charge will boost for it's flagging income levels.

The executive member for highways and transport, David Betts (Con, Purley-on-Thames) said: "These plans will bring Newbury in line with many of our near neighbours who already have similar arrangements.

"We have already done a lot of work in reducing costs so I hope that the increased income will go some way to helping the council's overall financial position."

Financial pressures squeezing the services range from an increase in referrals to the child services team following the Baby P tragedy to the fallout from the economic downturn, which has seen car parking income plummet as shoppers stay at home.

Adult social care, a repeatedly overspending department over the last few years has again gone over budget with homelessness and care for the elderly and vulnerable still an issue.

Further risks have been identified which could lead to more outgoings, such as the precarious position of care home provider Southern Cross, whose collapse would mean a £500,000 bill for the council which would need to step in and re-house 81 residents.

Upon the opening of the £150 million multi-use retail site West Berkshire Council is due to receive the first of an annual index-linked £300,000 payment from Standard Life Investments (SLI) for the ownership of the car parks, which will fluctuate each year based on market prices.

SLI have refused to confirm how much it will cost to park at the site however the Newbury Weekly News understands the charges are likely to be the most expensive in Newbury.

A spokeswoman for SLI, Christina Gillings, said: “We are currently in the process of confirming the exact rates and will advise the public in due course.

"The prices will be competitive with those charged in other town centres in the area.”