Councillors are set to discuss parking fees in an aim to support investment in car parks in the borough, support staff of Brentwood town centre businesses and encourage more residents and visitors to visit our high streets on Sundays.
As a part of the budget setting process for 2024/25, at next week’s meeting of the Finance, Assets, Investments & Recovery Committee (20th December), councillors will debate a range of parking proposals that include:
- Introducing all day FREE Sunday Car Parking in the William Hunter Way, Chatham Way, Multi-Storey Car Park and Town Hall Car Parks and a free 3–hour parking limit at the Shenfield Car Parks
- Freezing the price of car park season tickets
- Freezing the cost of parking in the Multi-Storey car park in Coptfold Road
- All car parks will continue to offer 30 minutes free car parking
- Removing the 24–hour parking charge and replacing it with a reduced fee for parking 6 hours or more of £7.00
- All other parking fees are set to increase and have been rounded to the nearest pound or 50p (excluding the Multi-Storey Car Park in Coptfold Road.
The Council is also investigating ways to improve the payment systems currently on offer in the council’s car parks with the aim of bringing in new ANPR camera technology that will mean residents pay for their parking on exit and not up front as they do at the moment. Payment options will include contactless, by app and cash. In addition, the Council will look to improve and maintain the car parks themselves. Any agreed changes to parking charges will look to financially support the investment required in car parks and new technology.
Ahead of the Committee, Cllr David Kendall, Chair of the Finance, Assets, Investment and Recovery Committee said, “Our proposals aim to deliver free Sunday car parking in many of our car parks for residents and visitors to our town centres and provide more support for staff who work in our town centres with a reduction in the cost of all day parking and a freeze on season ticket prices. Whilst there may be increases in some of our car parking charges - we are proposing to keep the 30 minutes free and freeze the charges for the Multi-Storey car park.
“We have listened to residents and the local business community and come up with a package that provides practical support and investment in our car parks and their infrastructure to make sure they are fit for purpose. Any proposed changes to parking fees will not happen before April 2024.”
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