Council agrees to parking charge increase

A council has agreed to increase parking charges across a market town.

The fee for a day's parking at Ram Meadow in Bury St Edmunds would increase by 50p and all short-stay tariffs across the town centre by 20p.

The changes were part of West Suffolk Council's budget for 2025-26, which was rubber stamped at a meeting on Tuesday.

Members also agreed to increase council tax on residents by the maximum amount of 2.99%.

Diane Hind, the Labour cabinet member for resources, said: "These budget proposals support the most vulnerable, are financially sound and importantly invest in the prosperity of our communities, businesses and west Suffolk as a whole."

The fee for three hours of parking at Ram Meadow in Cotton Lane is due to rise from £2.50 to £3, and from £3 to £3.50 for a day, says the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Weekly tickets for the car park will be £10.50, up from £9, while eight weeks would cost £84, up from £72.

Annual season tickets will go from £468 to £546.

Conservative Sarah Broughton told the meeting, that while she felt the budget proposals were balanced, the increased charges were "disappointing and anti-growth".

The opposition Tories tabled an amendment, arguing that long-stay prices for Ram Meadow should be frozen at their current rate, but their proposal was narrowly voted down.

Reacting to the decision, Mark Cordell, chief executive of the Bury Business Improvement District (BID), said he was disappointed and described it as "another blow" for local firms and the public.

The increase in council tax will mean the average Band D property will be charged £5.85 more per year.

However, households on low incomes will still have access to the tax relief scheme for another year.

Councillors approved the budget package by 32 votes to 21.

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