Car park fees changes strike balance amid financial pressures 

Small inflationary increases in fees will mean car parks remain self-funding while permit prices are being reduced. 

South Oxfordshire District Council cabinet met on 18 December to consider different options to make nominal increases to car park fees and permits charges. 

Councillors agreed to continue to offer an hour’s free parking. 

Currently the car parks run at a small surplus, with the extra income reinvested into improvements to the car parks and public open spaces, but rising costs means this is forecast to run into deficit within a few years. 

The agreed five per cent rise will make sure that the car parks do not become a drain on council resources that can otherwise be spent on other essential services.  This means that car parks fees will increase by between 10p and 30p depending how long you stay. 

It should also help to reduce town centre congestion and lower carbon emissions from vehicles by encouraging greener modes of transport, improving air quality. 

Councillors agreed to offer a 50 percent discount on permits and continue to offer half price permits for low emission vehicles. 

And car parks will begin the process of switching to a ticketless system, saving costs and reducing paper use. 

Councillors considered the potential impact on local businesses but acknowledged there are many factors that impact on the viability and vitality of the high street and that the hour free car parking should encourage residents to shop local. 

They resolved to collect data over the next year to monitor any potential impact and review policies accordingly. 

Cllr Sue Cooper, Cabinet Member for Environment, said: “It is always a difficult balance between ensuring our car parks are self-funding, encouraging greener modes of transport as work towards reducing carbon emissions in our district, and protecting the vitality of our fantastic high streets. 

“We hope these decisions strike that balance and car park users recognise the pressures we face. Our work to modernise with new parking machines and a ticketless system should help reduce ongoing costs.”

A full summary of car park fee changes can be found on our website