Large rise in council car park ticket costs

Motorists in Spalding are set to be hit by large increases in parking charges and for the first time will be charged to park in Gore Lane and all Castle Sports Complex spaces.

The cost of a parking season ticket in the town will increase by 77 per cent to £460 from £260 in the measures being recommended for approval by South Holland District Council’s Cabinet when it meets next week.

The cost of all individual tickets in the town will rise by at least 67 per cent with the exception of The Sheep Market where the cost to park for an hour will rise by 25 per cent from 80p to £1.

24 hour parking tickets available in the Holland Road, The Vista, Victoria Street and Winfrey Avenue (the only parking available for over four hours) have risen by at least 233 per cent and will cost £5.

While the car park at the Castle Sports Complex pool side currently has charges, tariffs will also be introduced on the gym side.

A £1 one-hour charge will be introduced while the previous 20p ticket for two hours will rise 650 per cent to £1.50.

The council is proposing that those using the Castle Sports Complex will not be subject to charges though the system of how that will be managed is yet to be finalised.

It says it hopes the charges will make more spaces available for facility users and is also looking at creating more car parking spaces at the facility.

The council also plans to charge people using the parking at Gore Lane with prices ranging from £1 for an hour to £2.50 for four hours to park there. The car park, accessed by a narrow road, will be resurfaced.

The full list of proposed car parking charges can be found here.

A report to SHDC’s Cabinet says it will cost £12,000 to install pay machines on the Castle Sports Complex “dry side” and at Gore Lane.

Parking will remain free in the evenings and on Sundays and Bank Holidays.

It follows new card and cash machines being installed recently and SHDC is also looking into setting up an option to pay for parking by a mobile phone app.

The price increases do not relate to the council car parks in Holbeach.

“This is because the work that is presently being undertaken in regards to regeneration bids in Holbeach, which may result in a bigger piece of work to review provision of the area including car parks,” the report to Cabinet states.

The council says the charges in Spalding will help improve the quality of the car parks.

If the authority didn’t raise charges it “would not allow SHDC to continue to maintain car parks to a good standard or invest as it needs to do, nor manage the parking demands of the car parks” the report states.

Councillor Roger Gambba-Jones, SHDC portfolio holder for place said: “Any increases in charges for residents for whatever service the council provides is never taken lightly and we are aware that some residents and retailers may have some concerns.

“We currently offer the lowest car parking charges in Lincolnshire and our prices have been static for ten years now, despite the increasing costs of provision. These increases mean we can continue to invest in better car parking facilities for the benefit of everyone and offer increased provision, lighting, signage and bays for parents with young children.”