Parking in the Corn Hill car park will cost 20p more an hour from the first Monday in October, after the parish council voted seven to three to raise charges as part of next year’s budget. It is the first increase since the barriers were installed four winters ago.
The council says the extra income, estimated at just under £9,000 a year, will be ring-fenced for the long-delayed resurfacing of the market square, where loose setts near the cross have tripped several shoppers over the summer.
Where the money goes
Under the approved budget, the parking income will be split across three lines:
- Market square resurfacing and drainage repairs
- Replacement of the two broken benches by the war memorial
- A modest reserve for winter gritting of the steeper lanes
Not everyone was persuaded. Two councillors warned that higher charges would push shoppers towards the out-of-town retail park, and one traders’ representative said the market’s Saturday stallholders should be exempt during setting-up hours.
The new tariff will be reviewed after six months, and the council has promised to publish the parking income figures each quarter so residents can judge whether the square actually gets fixed.
Related: Town Hall coverage · valley lanes 20mph plan
Further reading: Car parking overview
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