Hope Church Winchester slams decision to increase parking charges

Hope Church Winchester, based at the Middle Brook Centre, said they are 'extremely disappointed' with the decision.

Winchester City Council introduced the new charges at the start of July.

Parking on a Sunday for more than four hours has increased from £2.10 to £17. This is an increase of £14.90 or 709.5 per cent. 

Also, the previously overnight free period from 7pm to 8am now costs £3.30.

READ MORE: Winchester Community Choir slams overnight parking charges

The changes apply to Colebrook Street, Cossack Lane, Middle Brook Street, Gladstone Street, Friarsgate, Jewry Street, St Peter’s, Tower Street and Guildhall Yard.

The church is right outside the Middle Brook Street car park, which is used by the congregation on Sundays and volunteers during the week.

Church elder Steve Chick said: "As a large and active church based in the middle of Winchester we are extremely disappointed at Winchester City Council's decision to introduce evening car parking charges in the city centre without any meaningful consultation.

"Whilst we are sympathetic with the aims of the council's approved parking strategy, the document makes clear that charging for evening parking (and Sunday parking) was to enable the extension of the park and ride scheme, which now does not appear to be the case.

“The council's decision will have a significant impact on us as a church (and every other church in the city centre) particularly in terms of social action enterprises and evening meetings. No thought has been given to churches running morning and evening services, where people will now face having to pay twice in the same day to attend church meetings.”

SEE ALSO: Winchester City Council increase parking charges in the city centre

Mr Chick added that it will make life more difficult for its mid-week volunteers.

“Amongst many other things, we run a Debt Advice Centre, a weekly soup service, youth group and café for people from other nations. Activities like these are for the benefit of people living in the city at no cost to the public purse. All of this is only made possible by a large group of volunteers from the church. Post-Covid, maintaining levels of volunteers has been challenging across the board. For us this is now made worse by volunteers and guests having to pay to park during the evenings in the city centre car parks. The alternative is to walk from further afield which will be particularly challenging outside of the summer months, especially for those who are less mobile. 

“Sadly in taking this decision little thought or consideration has been given to churches and voluntary agencies providing an important social care role, especially when Central Government funding of public services is under increasing pressure,” he said.

A petition launched by Winchester Community Choir had been signed by 330 people on Wednesday July 26.