Most of council-run parking charges set to rise

1 hour ago

James AldridgeLocal Democracy Reporting Service

News image — The changes will be introduced in August across the 12 car parks, including the Broad Street Mall

LDRS The entrance to the Broad Street Mall car park in Reading, with a blue sign with a white P in it on the right side and a sign that says "car park this lane" and directions on the road. — The changes will be introduced in August across the 12 car parks, including the Broad Street Mall

Parking charges at most of council's car parks will increase later this summer.

Reading Borough Council manages 12 car parks in the town and made a surplus of about £2.1m from them in 2024/25, with that money being used for other transport improvements.

One-hour stays will be abolished at the Queens Road multi-storey, the Broad Street Mall and the Civic B car parks, where two hours will be the minimum fare.

The changes are projected to generate £244,000 in additional income for the council and will be implemented in August.

John Ennis, the council's lead councillor for transport, said the increases are in line with other fares available at privately run car parks.

"The projected generation of increased money will make parking services sustainable," he said.

"Any resulting surplus will be reinvested into transport and highway improvements."

At Queens Road, a minimum two-hour stay will cost £4.60. At Broad Street Mall and the Civic B car park, the tariff for that stay will be £4.30.

Fares are also increasing at out-of-town car parks, such as Hills Meadow and Chester Street in Caversham, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

But the charges to use the Green Park station car park in Whitley will decrease in an effort to increase usage and better meet local demand.