Parking Fees To Rise As Borough Spends £2.3m On Improvements

Published on: 5 Jan, 2013
Updated on: 5 Jan, 2013

Guildford Borough Council is to spend £2.3 million on improving car parks in the town, but there will be price increases at some short-stay car parks.

The access road to the York Road multi-storey car park is to be rebuilt.

The move was announced by the council’s Executive at its meeting on Thursday (January 3). Last April the cost of parking in the most central short stay car parks was increased from £1.10 to £1.20 per hour, Monday to Saturday, 8am to 6pm. The same change will be made from April 8 in the following car parks: Bedford Road multi-storey, Millbrook, G Live, Mary Road, Bright Hill, Leapale Road, Upper High Street.

Fees will also increase from £1.10 to £1.20 per hour on Saturdays, 8am to 6pm at: College Road, Bellerby Theatre, Lawn Road, Millmead House front car park, Robin Hood, St Joseph’s Church.

Fees are set to rise at Bedford Road car park, but new lifts and other improvements will be made.

Fees are set to rise at Bedford Road car park, but new lifts will be installed along with other improvements.

There will be a number of proposed free park and ride events in 2013, while charges for garages, season tickets and contract parking will be increased by 3%. There will no change to long-stay parking fees.

The maintenance projects and upgrades will include: rebuilding the access roads to Guildford Park car park and York Road multi-store, repairs at North Street car park, decorating Castle Street car park, replacing old lifts at Bedford Road multi-storey and Onslow House car parks, rebuilding a retaining wall at Bright Hill car park, and drainage work and new cladding at Bedford Road multi-storey and Onslow House car parks.

A retaining wall at Bright Hill car park is to be replaced, but it will cost more to park there from April 8.

To help encourage users and reduce traffic, there will be a number of free park and ride Saturdays in 2013.

Cllr James Palmer, Lead Councillor for Town Centre Planning, said: “Our car parks play a vital part in supporting our town centre and local economy.

“We hold 26 Safer Parking awards for our public parking, confirming our commitment to providing a high quality service for residents, visitors and businesses. Our proposed free park and ride Saturdays will also encourage people to try the service for the first time, and enjoy what Guildford town centre has to offer without adding to traffic.

“If our plans are supported by Surrey County Council, we will work with retailers and Elevate Guildford to select the offer days and help boost the town centre economy.

“We have already invested in electrical and lighting improvements at our multi-storey facilities. In addition to the new maintenance projects, we also plan to introduce a pay-by-phone system next year in pay and display car parks. By introducing a small fee increase in remaining town centre short-stay car parks, we aim to free-up and achieve a better use of this premium space for shoppers and visitors. There is no increase in the cost of our long-stay car parks to encourage and benefit those workers that need more time.”