Parking hike plans scrapped amid business fears

Plans to increase the prices at Kent's most expensive council car parks have been scrapped following a public backlash.

Canterbury City Council (CCC) was set to increase tariffs at its "premium" Band One sites to £3.80 an hour – despite most already being hit with a hefty rise just nine months ago.

Following opposition to the move, the council has backtracked on the proposals and is set to freeze the prices in April's new budget, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

CCC officer Richard Moore told a council scrutiny meeting in January that a "considerable number" of residents and businesses had objected to the proposals set out in October 2024.

Mr Moore: "The perception was although it's only a 10p increase, that headline rate going up would have discouraged even more people from coming into our towns and city centres."

At the meeting, opposition leader Rachel Carnac said: "I'm pleased that we found a way not to have to increase parking charges this year."

Last year's hikes saw some Band One car parks – the district's most expensive – increase to £3.70 an hour from as little as £1.60.

When further rises were proposed in October, Anthony Bunger, the regional manager for Curzon Cinemas, said the business might not survive.

He said the 2024 price hikes had sparked a 50% drop in admissions.

Last year, School Lane car park in Herne jumped in price from £2.20 a day up to £15 when the council hiked rates across the board, sparking a petition with more than 1,700 signatures opposing it.

But from April 1, it will be moved into Band Five with a maximum fee of £1.60 a day on weekdays and double that on weekends and bank holidays.

CCC is also releasing an annual permit for frequent users of its three Park & Ride sites – at a cost of £50 a month, or £40 a month at the discounted rate for residents.

All of the proposed changes will take place from April 1 this year if the budget is signed off later this month.

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