MELKSHAM mayor, cllr Simon Crundell, has called for the re-introduction of reduced-rate residents’ parking permits in car parks owned by Wiltshire Council.
In 2010, Wiltshire Council began phasing out the off-street residents’ parking scheme for those without on-street parking who relied on nearby car parks. New residents were required to purchase a car park season ticket at the same price as visitors, while existing permit holders have seen significant annual price increases.
Cllr Crundell said, “I strongly believe that residents’ permits would provide a more affordable and accessible option for our community, and would like to see Wiltshire Council work towards reintroducing residents’ permits in places where the only option for parking is one of Wiltshire Council’s car parks.”
Regarding the recent price increase for existing permit holders, Cllr Crundell said, “I share the community’s disappointment with Wiltshire Council’s decision to raise the cost of parking permits in Melksham’s car parks. As a town council, we offer a free parking scheme for local shoppers, but we have limitations on the actions we can take.
“The increase in permit charges will have a significant impact on our residents, many of whom are already struggling with the cost of living. For example, on Union Street, where the council has restrictions on on-street parking, the only option for residents is to use the council’s car park, which can be expensive.”
Cllr Caroline Thomas, Wiltshire Council cabinet member for transport at Wiltshire Council said, “These are off-street residents’ parking permits which are part of historic arrangements put in place by the former district council.
“In 2010, the cabinet decided that these permits should be phased out as part of creating a unitary council to avoid duplicate schemes operating in the car parks, with residents’ permits operating alongside season tickets.
“The majority of our season ticket holders are also residents of Wiltshire, and it was not considered appropriate to subsidise one user over another and that we should, therefore, harmonise rates.
“To do this, the residents’ permit price has been increased incrementally so that it will eventually be the same as a season ticket price. Currently across Wiltshire, there are 63 permits that will be affected by this change. In Melksham there are 10, and these permit holders were all made aware of the changes when the decision was made in 2010.”
