A PETITION to reverse the city council's decision to scrap free overnight parking in the city centre will be presented at this week's full council meeting.
The decision, made in July, has been controversial among community groups and businesses, with the petition gaining 501 signatures.
Parking on a Sunday for more than four hours increased from £2.10 to £17. This is an increase of £14.90 or 709.5 per cent.
The previously free overnight period from 7pm to 8am costs £3.30 for more than one hour. A new tariff of £1.80 for one hour and a volunteer permit was recently agreed.
READ MORE: Winchester Community Choir on city centre parking charges
The petition was started by Denis Gibson, the membership secretary of Winchester Community Choir, based at the United Church in Jewry Street.
The petition says: “We the undersigned petition the council to reverse its decision to abolish free parking between 7pm and 8am in Winchester city centre car parks.
“At the beginning of July, Winchester City Council introduced a fixed charge of £3.30 for any period of parking that starts between 7pm and 8am. You can reduce this cost to £1.80 if you buy an hour’s worth of parking that runs out after 7pm – you don’t have to pay any more for overnight. Over a year, even the lower charge adds enormously to the costs incurred by people who travel into town for work in the night-time economy and those who participate in community, cultural and religious activities at city-centre venues during the evening.
“For example, a full-time restaurant worker whose shift ends after the last bus home will pay an extra £9 per week (at the very least) to bring a car to a central car park. And members of a choir that meets weekly during term time in a city-centre venue will have to find an extra £60pa to attend rehearsals and performances. These charges are punitive, will damage the local economy and will discourage participation in community and cultural activities in the city.”
The charges apply to Colebrook Street, Cossack Lane, Middle Brook Street, Gladstone Street, Friarsgate, Jewry Street, St Peter’s, Tower Street and Guildhall Yard.
The petition will be presented at the full council meeting on Thursday, November 30.
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