PARKING charges in Winchester city centre have increased once more.

The city council increased zone one parking charges in car parks by 10p per hour from October 1. 

A spokesperson for Winchester City Council described the increase as "inflationary" and stressed that it is limited to the central parking zone of the city.

Some residents have expressed irritation at the rise within the wider context of parking issues in the city centre.

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A map of Winchester's parking zones (Image: WCC)

This means that rather than £1.80 for an hour, drivers must pay £1.90, and for parking over four hours the price has risen from £17 to £18.

Also, parking for up to six hours at The Brooks Centre or Middle Brook Street car parks on Saturdays and Sundays has risen from £7 to £7.50.

An overnight tariff for cars staying less than one hour has also been introduced at £1.90, with the pre-existing overnight charge (from 7pm until 8am) has risen from £3.30 to £3.50.

In a letter to the editor of the Chronicle, Fred White wrote that the residents of the Q and R residential parking zones were being "disregarded and disrespected" by councillors after having raised concerns about parking insufficiencies in their area.

There is also continued confusion around whether residents will continue to have access to free parking in car parks on Sundays, when on-street parking is free for visitors.

The issue stems in part from the division of the governance of the city's parking: Hampshire County Council looks after on-street parking while the city council is in charge of car parks.

Regarding this issue, a spokesperson for Hampshire County Council said: “We are aware of a historic arrangement that Winchester City Council had in place with some residents with on-street parking permits, allowing them to park in the City Council’s car parks at certain times.

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"This arrangement was in place prior to the transfer to the County Council of responsibility for on-street parking in Winchester, including the on-street resident permit scheme, on October 1, 2023. It would be for the city council to comment on whether, and on what basis, any arrangements might continue, as the city council retains responsibility for car parks."

A spokesperson for WCC said: "The park and walk car parks which are just a short walk from the city centre haven’t changed. They all offer a free one-hour parking, and are also free to park in on evenings and Sunday too. These include: Chesil Street Multi Storey, River Park, Cattle Market, Worthy Lane. [...] There are no changes to Park and Ride either."