Rise in town parking charges approved by council

The cost of parking in Swindon is set to rise by up to 8% in council-run car parks and on-street parking.

The increases agreed by the borough council will mean parking for the railway station will increase by 10p an hour and "leisure" parking in Old Town by 10p every two hours.

Last year, motorists contributed more than £4m to the council's coffers and a further £1m in fines.

From this week, parking at some town centre car parks will remain the same but across the borough it will cost between 4% and 8% more to park.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, parking fees are one of the council's "biggest money-spinners".

By hiking prices, the authority will be hoping to bring in "as much cash, or more" over the next year.

As part of the council's budget for this year, parking at Bristol Street car park for just one hour is set to rise by 10p whilst those parking for more than six hours face a 50p hike.

Both town centre short-stay and long-stay parking fees have been upped by 5% while an annual season ticket holder will be spending an additional £102.

Resident permits and carers permits have also been increased by 5% while "leisure parking" in Old Town in the evening has gone up by 8%.

Fees at a few of the main shopping centre car parks at Sanford Street, Commercial Road and Harding Street remain unchanged.

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