Councillors agree to increase car parking charges

Senior council officials have agreed to follow in the footsteps of neighbouring authorities by hiking car parking charges in Ipswich.

Ipswich Borough Council's cabinet members voted in favour of increasing the cost of parking in the town's car parks eight to one at a recent meeting.

Under the proposals, the short-stay one-hour rate of £1.50 would increase to £1.60, while the five-hour rate would cost £8, up from £7.50.

According to the authority the changes, which still need to be officially approved at full council, would generate £307,000 of extra income each year for the council.

Season tickets could also increase from £1,309 per year to £1,403 for annual tickets valid on weekdays, while all-week tickets would cost £1,485, up from £1,386.

And, the council's long-stay car park rates, while already higher than some private carparks, could increase from £7 for 24-hours to £7.50, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The existing promotional offer of £2.50 for arrivals after 2pm, meanwhile, will remain in place but increase to £2.70.

The council said the new prices will still be "far lower" than they would have been had they been adjusted for inflation since 2011.

The £1.70 rate for one hour in 2011, for example, would be equivalent to £2.51 today and the five-hour rate would be £11.09.

Jane Riley, the council's lead for culture and customers, said the increases would play a vital part in the authority's budget plans and climate change commitments.

She added the changes would serve to reduce congestion in the town centre and encourage sustainable modes of transport.

But Ian Fisher, the Conservative leader, warned against increasing prices at a time when the town centre was struggling for footfall.

Responding, Labour councillor and leader of the council, Neil MacDonald, said the authority had to make "hard decisions" in light of its financial challenges.

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