New car parking charges on the Isle of Wight will be brought into force in 2 weeks’ time — including a price hike for residents who have to pay for parking permits.
The Isle of Wight Council says it has held off implementing the changes for as long as possible due to coronavirus. The time has now come for the changes to take place and they will become effective as of 15th October.
As decided in February this year, as part of the authority’s budget for 2020/21, a number of charges are being increased as a way of ‘income generation’. An additional £800,000 could be generated.
Residents who have to buy a permit to park near their houses will pay more than double in some cases — the £44 charge per car is set to rise to £72 for your first permit and £100 for the second. This means for a household with 2 cars people will have to pay £172 for the privilege, compared to only £88 last year. Administration charges for permits are also going to increase to £15 per request.
The other permit set to get overhauled is the All Island Car Park permit, frequently used by commuters to park while they are at work. Previously there were 2 options of the permit, with different time frames, which cost £324 and £462, respectively, for a year. Now, those who purchase the permit will have to pay either a single payment of £540 or, if you pay by monthly instalments, £600, for 12 months of 24-hour parking in long stay car parks.
A council spokesperson, however, said the new all-Island 24-hour permit ‘offers Islanders greater flexibility in payments and coverage’.
The 12 month permit for Scarrots Lane will also rise by £100 — to £600.
Parking tariffs in long and short stay car parks across the Island will also increase from as little as 10p or by as much as £2.60 for longer, overnight stays.
Long stay car parks will now charge between £1.70 and £9 for anywhere up to 10 hours with long stay on-street parking charges going up to £8.60 for 8 hours.
Short stay car parks charges will vary from £1.10 for up to half an hour to £5.10 for 3 hours. On-street short stay spaces will be charged at £1 for 30 minutes up to £4 for 2 hours.
Heavy commercial, public service and passenger carrying vehicles will face a £2 increase for parking during the day and a rise of £2.60 for overnight parking.
An Isle of Wight Council spokesperson said:
“The advertised changes are designed to make parking charges fairer and simpler across the Island, ahead of a detailed review of parking facilities and fees.
“Mindful of the impact of coronavirus, the council has held back from implementing the adjustments for as long as possible at considerable cost to its budget position.
“It also sought to support the community during lockdown by suspending parking charges entirely, contributing to a funding shortfall of £10 million in its finances.
“The council continues to be committed to supporting the future vibrancy and viability of the Island’s high streets. Among the changes is a new £1 charge allowing drivers to park in Newport High Street for 30 minutes, helping to support businesses and boosting local trade. The tariff is aimed at people who simply want to pull up, nip in one or two shops and then be on their way again.”
F council tax.. trying to suck money out of people as much as possible everywhere.. While they stuffing their pockits from other people money.. constantly making their wages to rise.. while other people struggle to live from little wages they are paid.. can’t escape sick society taxes and poverty.. slave of sick system….
Now we know where their getting that pay rise from
No mention on the press release or the notices about Blue Badge holders.
Making parking charges fairer . Don’t they mean knocking another nail into the high Street coffin?
How else are we going to pay for the council employees pensions which at the moment accounts
for approx 16% of our council tax
“The council continues to be committed to supporting the future vibrancy and viability of the Island’s high streets”.
Well, thats a big fail there then, isn’t it?
“The council continues to be committed to supporting the future vibrancy and viability of the Island’s high streets. Among the changes is a new £1 charge allowing drivers to park in Newport High Street for 30 minutes, helping to support businesses and boosting local trade. The tariff is aimed at people who simply want to pull up, nip in one or two shops and then be on their way again.” What the spokesperson really means is that the council is committed to killing off the high street. If they really wanted to support and rejuvinise the high street, they would make parking free for at least a year and pay for it by reversing the recent pay rises.
Why don’t they have a free parking day once a week and see what happens in the High Streets?
Guess they got to get there pay rises pensions, bonuses and allowances from somewhere I guess . They spent the money the gov gave them on the floating disaster. Cant imagine the hike on council tax next year
This parking charge hike is almost extortion! !
The extra money they wont be getting will force them to hike the price again next year and when that doesn’t bring in the expected money, they will just go on hiking the cost and so on and so on.
They just don’t learn, do they?
The poor councillors might have eased their struggle in ‘holding off for as long as possible’ by not voting themselves a pay rise!