New parking charges get go-ahead for summer

Discussions have taken place between Leamington town council, Leamington Chamber of Trade, Warwick District Council and Warwickshire County Council over a clearer pricing and charging mechanism for both on and off-street parking which would resolve the ‘no change’ issue for pay and display users and reduce the number of people who are overcharged.

This is aimed at increasing ‘dwell times’ in the town centre and reducing the threat of penalty charges.

Under the new linear system off-street car parks would have a minimum charge of 20p for 12 minutes with customers paying 30p for 18 minutes, 40p for 24 minutes, 50p for 30 minutes, £1 for one hour, £1.50 for 90 minutes and £2 for two hours.

The most long-stay customers would have to pay for all-day parking would drop from £7 to £4 at St Peter’s car park while all other car parks would charge £3.

But the minimum charge for on-street parking, dealt with by the county council, would rise to 50p for 30 minutes.

The district council’s executive committee approved the off-street charges at a meeting on Wednesday night.

Members generally expressed support for the new charges but Councillor Sue Gallagher (Con, Leek Wootton) raised concerns about the rising cost of on-street parking.

In response, council leader Michael Doody (Con, Radford Semele) said: “Yes it used to be 20p then it went to 40p and now it will go up to 50p but we have been in consultation with traders and the town council and they have backed this scheme. They want people to come into the town and stay there.”