Additional income needed to meet running costs and avoid cuts to services
A raft of changes to parking arrangements and charges across Tonbridge and Malling have been agreed by the borough council’s cabinet.
Councillors voted to approve the introduction of charges at car parks in Aylesford and Larkfield, bringing them into line with the rest of the borough. Following discussion, it was agreed that the price of a resident permit for the Bailey Bridge car parks in Aylesford would be reduced from the originally proposed £290 to £200 per year. A permit scheme to allow parents to park for free during school drop off and pick up times was also agreed. The charges will help fund the creation of up to 30 additional spaces at the Bailey Bridge East car park.
Proposals to introduce charges at Martin Square, Larkfield, were amended to allow 30 minutes of free parking.
Councillors also voted to approve the introduction of charges for on-street parking in the High Street and Swan Street in West Malling but with the first hour free. In Tonbridge, parking in the western part of Avebury Avenue will switch from pay and display to permit holders and Upper Castle Field car park next to Tonbridge Castle will be extended to provide additional spaces. Current spaces in the castle grounds for KCC Gateway visitors will be made available for general use.
Across the borough, it was agreed to extend the end of the charging period from 6pm to 8pm and to include Sundays and bank holidays. Parking on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day and overnight parking will remain free. Approval was also given to an increase in parking tariffs and permit fees across the borough, expected to be implemented this summer - the first rise in two years.
A report to councillors last year highlighted the sharp increases in overheads for operating car parks and the need to generate more income. Costs include car park maintenance and business rates of £320,000 and £295,000 per year respectively. A public consultation on the proposals followed which prompted more than 4,000 responses.
Cllr Kim Tanner, cabinet lead on finance, told the meeting: “We do have to maintain our car parks and that costs a lot of money. The days of free parking have probably gone. It’s time we brought some sort of consistency across the borough with regard to parking charges and even though we do have some concessions, every concession is going to have an effect on our financial strategy and our funding.”
Cllr Tanner added: “It’s a balancing act, nobody wants to charge for parking but it is a necessity and if we don’t do that we’ll have to decide somewhere down the line which services to cut, that’s the reality.”
Read the full report to cabinet.