Free parking in the evenings in Winchester is set to come to an end.

Winchester City Council is proposing new charges, starting in July, for off-street parking after 7pm and before 8am.

The overnight charge will be the equivalent of two hours of the daily rate.

The council is also proposing an off peak season ticket in the park and walk car parks starting in October.

The report will be discussed at the cabinet member for climate emergency decision day on Monday June 5. 

In the report, it said: “Currently the charging in the central car parks ends at 7pm and at 6pm in the park and walk car parks. However after this point there remain significant costs to cover, such as lighting, security and manning of the CCTV system which is actively monitored 24 hours per day.

“It is proposed that an overnight charge (agreed by Cabinet in November 2022) is introduced at a flat rate level equivalent to the two hour charge (£3.30) from July 2023 in the central car parks only, which would allow parking from 7pm to 8am in the morning, or for any period in between. If a visitor paid to park prior to 7pm the fee calculation would take this into account. 

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“Free parking remains available as it does now at off peak times in the park and walk and park and ride car parks, and there is no impact on those holding blue badges.

“The changes since Covid, the increased emphasis on climate change, and the decision by the county council to take back control of on street parking across Hampshire requires some amendments to how we manage parking across Winchester in order to continue offering a high quality service.

“There are potentially added benefits for opening up offers to a wider community. Since Covid there has been a noticeable drop off in season ticket use, of around 50 per cent, as hybrid working has become more common. 

“It is recommended that an annual review of charges is introduced to feed into price changes in October each year, and this is built into the budget planning process.”

Steve Brine MP said: “Clearly residents voted for this council and the administration has a big majority to force it through but you have to win the argument as well as the vote in my opinion.

“This is not what the city needs right now in terms of the night time economy but it’s going to be especially unwelcome for city centre residents who pay a premium to live centrally and park overnight without charge.”

The report compares the parking charges in other areas. Portsmouth operates a normal parking charge 24 hours a day and Southampton charges £1-£2 between 6pm and 12am, Monday to Saturday.

The Winchester evening charges are for: Colebrook Street, Cossack Lane, Middle Brook Street, Gladstone Street, Friarsgate, Jewry Street, St Peter’s, Tower Street and Guildhall Yard.