Controversial parking charge hikes in Wiltshire delayed for three days
The new parking charges will now come into force on September 4th
The introduction of controversial parking charges in Wiltshire has been delayed – giving motorists three days of lower tariffs before having to pay 20 per cent more.
In a last-minute announcement on Friday (August 28) Wiltshire Council said new charges would come into force on September 4 – not September 1 as originally planned.
The council said it needed more time to “allow final system checks to be completed, ensuring the new arrangements are introduced smoothly and efficiently for residents, businesses and visitors.”
“By taking this extra time to fully prepare, the council is helping to ensure a reliable and positive customer experience from the outset,” it said.
Wiltshire Council says prices have been frozen while inflation has risen by around 28 per cent, leaving it facing higher costs to operate the service.
The increase will be rounded to the nearest 10p and marks the first change in parking tariffs since 2022.
Season-ticket and permit prices will also rise in line with the new tariffs, although the council says they will remain significantly cheaper than paying daily rates. Exact charges will vary between locations and the type of car park.
The biggest operational change will affect short-stay car parks, where charging hours on weekdays will be extended to run from 7am to 7pm. That adds an hour at the start and end of the current charging period.
Sunday tariffs will also be aligned with weekday rates in short-stay car parks. However, Sunday charging will continue to start at 10am, rather than the proposed 7am start, following feedback from residents, businesses and community groups.
Long-stay car parks will largely escape the changes to operating hours. They will retain their existing 8am to 6pm charging period, apart from Dunns Lane car park in Castle Combe, where charges will run from 7am to 7pm.
The all-day ticket there will increase from £5.60 to £6.60. The Maltings car park in Salisbury will also retain its existing charging hours.
Weekend charges will be introduced at selected council-owned car parks, including County Hall in Trowbridge and the Bridge Centre in Chippenham, bringing a new cost for some Saturday and Sunday users.
Several previously proposed measures have been dropped. Sunday on-street parking charges will not be introduced in Salisbury, while Sunday charges will not be added at Cross Hayes in Malmesbury or Marlborough High Street. These locations are treated as on-street parking areas.
The changes follow a consultation that attracted 1,762 responses. The council says the revised approach is intended to support town-centre turnover, manage demand and help fund transport and highways services, including the rural bus network.
Critics, however, fear higher prices and longer charging hours could discourage shoppers and put further pressure on high-street businesses.
Cllr Ian Thorn, Leader of Wiltshire Council, said: Parking charges haven’t risen in Wiltshire since 2022, and given significant inflation during that time, we had to raise them now to help pay for the increasing costs in providing the service and to reinvest in our wider transport infrastructure, including our rural bus network.
“That said, we have listened to feedback we received during the consultation and made several changes to our original proposals as a result.
“These changes strike a balance between supporting our town and city centres, managing parking effectively and ensuring we can continue to invest in transport and highways services across Wiltshire.
“The changes also reflect our commitment in Our Wiltshire Plan to improve public transport options across the county.”