Parking charges consultation starts next month
Wiltshire Council are proposing a 20 per cent increase in parking charges.
Proposals to increase parking charges in Wiltshire by 20 per cent will be put to the public next month.
Statutory consultation will begin on Thursday, April 9 and run until Wednesday, May 5.
The council’s parking tariff review also includes proposals to increase the times during which motorists must pay for parking – currently 8am to 6pm – to between 7am and 7pm.
The proposed changes on which the public can have their say include:
An average 20 per cent rise in parking charges in 2026, followed by a further five per cent rise in 2028.
Extending parking charges operating hours to 7am-7pm.
Aligning Sunday charges with weekday tariffs.
Reintroducing on‑street Sunday charging in Salisbury.
Adjusting season ticket and permit fees in line with any tariff changes.
The council says the outcome of the parking tariff review is subject to change depending on the consultation responses.
Tariffs may increase, decrease, remain unchanged, or be withdrawn entirely, they say.
However, any final decision will need to fully cover identified costs to ensure there is no impact on the council’s Medium‑Term Financial Strategy – meaning that if savings are ‘lost’ in one area they will need to be found in another.
When it first discussed the proposed increases, the council pointed out that parking charges in Wiltshire have not changed since 2022 – during which time inflation was 20 per cent.
Cllr Ian Thorn, leader of Wiltshire Council, said: “While we recognise that any proposed tariff rises are not always popular, we have benchmarked these charges to ensure they remain competitive with other areas in the region, and we have not raised parking charges since 2022, so we believe that this is a fair and measured approach."
“However, it is important to note that this will be a consultation and no decision has been made. I’d encourage as many people as possible to take part in the consultation when it opens next month.”
The consultation will be part of the statutory Traffic Regulation Orders process.
People will be able to write to the council via email or letter to share their views – with more details available at the start of the consultation.