Parking tariffs set to change in Newbury on-street bays

West Berkshire Council look to improve take-up of "under utilised" spaces

WEST Berkshire Council is looking to amend parking tariffs in a number of on-street town centre bays that are currently being “under-utilised”.

Parking bays in Kings Road West are regularly left unused after controversial charges were brought in last September.

The council said the bays are being “under-utilised”, with motorists choosing to park for free on nearby residential streets.

West Berkshire Council is now looking to increase the maximum stay in bays in Kings Road West as well as those opposite the cemetery in Newtown Road, and also reducing the charge, in an effort to increase usage and to reduce parking in residential roads.

Motorists have been able to park in Kings Road West for a maximum of one hour, with up to 30 minutes free, while in Newtown Road the maximum stay is two hours.

However, under the new tariffs, cars parked in the on-street bays will be able to stay for a maximum of four hours with a charge of £3 in Kings Road West and £2 in Newtown Road.

The cost of a two-hour stay in Newtown Road will be reduced from £2 to £1, while the charge for the same period will be £1.50 in Kings Road West.

There will continue to be no charge for stays of less than 30 minutes.

The reduction in tariffs was welcomed by Newbury town councillor Andrew Steel (Con, St John’s) after the item was noted at a recent meeting of the planning and highways committee.

Mr Steel said that the plans were a “step in the right direction”, but it would be a case of waiting to see if further measures were needed.

He said: “There is still the same amount of traffic, but they are using the side streets around the station and causing a problem for the residents. Anything that will free it up for the commuters should be welcomed.

“This change is a step in the right direction. We will look at it to see if the bays are still under-utilised, and if they are, then I would suggest scrapping the charges altogether.”

Councillors, however, did take issue with the bays in Newtown Road, south of St John’s Road, where motorists can only pay for parking through their mobile phone.

Anthony Pick (Con, St Johns) said: “We were opposed to it when it came up a couple of years ago.

“Our concerns about mobile-only parking have been fully justified.”

Julian Swift-Hook (Lib Dem, Pyle Hill) said: “We should make an objection as it excludes a proportion of the population and discourages the use of those bays.”

Mr Pick added: “I’m going to propose that we put a formal representation to that effect.

“We oppose and continue to oppose that in Newtown Road it is only possible to pay for parking by telephone.”