Cheaper parking and new grace period but still no free parking

WILTSHIRE Council leaders have agreed to cut the cost of parking in Melksham and introduce a new 15-minute grace period but the town will still have no free-parking despite several recent campaigns. 

The changes follows a parking review which was the largest ever carried out in the county and looked at changes to fees and the designation of long and short stay car parks, before going out to public consultation for 12 weeks from last October.

Now following that period, council chiefs have announced the changes, to be made in April, will include a new lower rate at three Melksham car parks and a new 15-minute grace period will be introduced at all Wiltshire Council car parks. This means civil enforcement officers will have to wait for 15 minutes after the expiry time of parking before issuing a ticket.

Lower charges will be introduced at King Street, Lowbourne and Union Street. One hour parking at these car parks will now be 30p compared to the current rate of 40p, while two-hours parking will be £1; down from £1.10 and three-hours parking will be £1.80; down from £2. A new day rate of £4.50 will also be charged, down from the current charge of £5.60.

No changes will be made to the cost of parking at Church Street with prices remaining at the current rate.

Bath Road car park is under review as Wiltshire Council explores the possibility of removing the car park due to the low numbers who use it. A recent study found it is only 10% occupied on average.

Parking permits in Melksham will now cost £33 for one month, £99 for three months, £197 for six months and £394 for 12 months.

No free-parking 

Whilst the new lower rates and introduction of a grace period has been welcomed, some have been left disappointed by the lack of free parking, despite several calls for it to be introduced.

A trial one-hour free parking was introduced in Westbury during the review which was a resounding success as the number of people coming to the town increased dramatically. But, Wiltshire Council has decided against introducing one-hour free parking in Melksham or indeed anywhere in Wiltshire.

MP Duncan Hames who had a campaign for one-hour free parking to be introduced in Melksham said, “The new parking strategy may have been approved by the councillors on the Cabinet, but not by the thousands of people who called for an hour’s free parking.”

Whilst Melksham shop owner Sue Tweedie from Upper Cut Clothing said, “Really the town needs one-hour free parking to be able to survive. It is a shame it has not been introduced as clearly many people supported the proposal.

“Shops are struggling in the town and free parking would give the town a big lift.”

Wiltshire Council claim the cost of one-hour free parking being introduced in Melksham would cost them £73,100 a year.

Philip Whitehead, cabinet member for highways said, “Although we wanted to make sure the solution would be cost neutral, we will now actually be putting money in to reduce car parking fees in those car parks that are currently underused.

“There are many car parks in the county where prices are being held for a further four years – making it eight years in total since any increase.

“One of the main outcomes could see smaller, underused car parks transferred to parish and town councils or local community groups where there is a local desire.

“Charges have also been set on a car park by car park basis to reflect local issues, rather than the countywide system in place before – this was something local people were keen to see. Many parking permit prices are being reduced all over the county, and the council will be looking into trialling new technology in identified areas.

“There was support for first hour free and free after 4.00pm parking schemes in areas where local communities are prepared to fund the service, but people were clear Wiltshire Council should not introduce higher charges or reduce services to fund these changes.

“As a result the council will continue to work with local town councils and business and community groups to discuss opportunities for locally funded schemes to be introduced.”