Parking fee rises could 'desecrate' high streets

Increases to car parking charges could "desecrate" trade on struggling high streets, councillors have warned.

New Forest District Council approved plans to increase tariffs in its town, village and coastal car parks from the new year.

Liberal Democrat opposition councillor Hilary Brand said parking was repeatedly targeted because it was an "easy cash cow".

The Conservative-run authority said the changes are broadly in line with inflation and were expected to generate an extra £189,000 in income.

The increase in charges, due to come into effect in January will see an annual shoppers' parking clock pass rise from £47 to £49. These were priced at £25 in 2020.

An annual district-wide long-stay parking clock will increase from £240 to £247.

Parking for up to an hour in many town and village car parks will increase from £1.55 to £1.60, while a two-hour stay will rise from £3.20 to £3.30.

During a debate on the charges Brand said: "We seem to be doing everything we can to not support businesses and the economy.

"What about the people who come to Lyndhurst every day and live there? They just want their loaf of bread or their milk.

"We don't seem to do anything to support our communities or our businesses. It is just take, take, take."

Parking charges were introduced for Forestry England-managed car parks throughout the New Forest earlier this year, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Independent councillor Jacqui England said the council's move appeared at odds with concerns previously raised about Forestry England's parking charges in the national park.

She said: "The last time we were in this chamber we were talking about stopping the Forestry England charges in the forest. And in the next meeting it seems like we are increasing the charges in the town.

"It is not really singing from the same hymn sheet. The high street needs viability and sustainability, not to be desecrated."

Cabinet member for economy and planning Derek Tipp said difficult decisions were needed to keep the council's finances on track.

He said: "We have got to balance the budget. The government is not going to help us.

"We have to do something, and we have to make difficult choices. We don't want to make any cuts at all, but there have to be some."