A RESTAURANT owner in Winchester has labelled the city council’s decision to end free parking in central car parks as “ill thought” and “damaging” as businesses continue to recover from the pandemic and cost-of-living crisis.

From July, prices equivalent to two hours of the daily rate will apply to Colebrook Street, Cossack Lane, Middle Brook Street, Gladstone Street, Friarsgate, Jewry Street, St Peter’s, Tower Street and Guildhall Yard after 7pm and before 8am.

The parking charge changes were approved by cabinet member for climate emergency, Cllr Kelsie Learney, in the decision day meeting on Monday, June 5.

READ MORE: Winchester City Council approves policy to end free overnight parking

The proposal and all accompanying recommendations, including annual tariff reviews and off-peak season tickets from October, were swiftly approved in the meeting with the only objections coming from Conservative Councillor Neil Bolton.

However, following the decision the owner of the highly esteemed Japanese restaurant Kyoto Kitchen, Miff Kayum, has questioned when businesses were given the opportunity to comment.

Hampshire Chronicle: Kyoto Kitchen owner Miff Kayum. Image: Adrienne Photography

Mr Kayum said: “This is a really bad decision. Where was the consultation? This ill thought and damaging charge at a time when the night time economy and small independent businesses are still recovering Covid and last year’s turbulent economic challenges will have little benefit for achieving net and cause visitors to go elsewhere.”

SEE ALSO: Kyoto Kitchen announces it's moving after 11 years in Parchment Street

The introduction of overnight charges follows Kyoto Kitchen's announcement that it will be moving from Parchment Street to 5 Bridge Street after the pub Bridge Street House closed at the beginning of May.

In Monday’s cabinet meeting, the service lead for environmental services, Campbell Williams, said that the city council had met with Winchester Business Improvement District (BID) which understood the reasons for the charges.

Executive director of Winchester Business Improvement District (BID), Paul Spencer, said: “The introduction of overnight parking charges is not ideal for businesses at a time when the cost of living crisis continues to impact customer finances and businesses are under pressure in the current economic climate. We have expressed this view to the council.

"We recognise this is part of a wider strategy to address air quality and climate emergency as well as invest in new improvements to parking facilities. The changes will affect only the most central car parks and other car parks close to the city centre will remain free after 5pm and on Sundays.