Parking charges increases could be scrapped under proposal (From Kidderminster Shuttle)

Parking charges increases could be scrapped under proposal

1:20pm Tuesday 15th January 2013 in Local

A PLANNED parking charge hike for Wyre Forest could be scrapped in a bid to help struggling high street businesses cope with the economic downturn.

Wyre Forest District Council’s Cabinet is proposing to cancel the five per cent parking increases that were due to hit the district in October. The authority had agreed to put up the prices in February last year.

The proposal will come as good news to traders, who were fearful for the future of their businesses following the recent rise last October.

Conservative John Campion, Leader of the district council, said: “We know that the High Street is under a great amount of pressure from the continued global economic slowdown.

“We don’t believe that now is the right time to increase parking charges further, despite the fact that Central Government will have reduced the council’s funding by nearly a quarter over four years.

“We have invested £1m this year and proposing £500k next year to support the local economy. This is another step to support our local traders.”

He said the cost of scrapping the increase would be in excess of £150,000 but added the Cabinet believed it was the “right thing to do”.

Conservative Marcus Hart, cabinet member for environmental services, added: “We have seen initiatives around our car parks in recent months aimed at supporting our town centres, including free parking in selected carparks on Tuesdays and Saturdays over Christmas as well as free parking after 4pm.

“We recognise that charging is an important part of managing our car parks ensuring there is an appropriate amount of turn over to meet the needs of the local businesses.”

The proposal would mean that parking charges would be frozen until October 2014. The final decision will be taken by the district council at its full meeting on Wednesday, February 27.