Spalding car park fees to rise

Parking fees in Spalding’s Westlode Street car park are set to triple from the daily rate of £1 charged in March this year to £3.

Details of the proposed rise are contained in South Holland District Council documents sent to ward councillors, giving them - and the public - a deadline of September 11 to respond.

Owned by Broadgate and managed by South Holland District Council, Westlode Street was the cheapest pay and display car park as fees at council car parks doubled in January.

That hike was smaller than originally proposed after concerned traders petitioned the council.

Proposed charges for Westlode Street are: up to 2 hours - £1; up to 4 hours - £2; all day - £3; and season tickets -£60 per quarter.

Proposed charges for Gore Lane are: up to an hour - £1; up to 2 hours - £1.50; up to 3 hours - £2; and up to 4 hours - £2.50.

Gore Lane is rough ground and used by traders and shopworkers because it’s free.

The council information has caused confusion, with some believing charges for all council car parks that went up in January will rise yet again.

Council portfolio holder Roger Gambba-Jones says the step will tidy up the original order and changes centre on Gore Lane - solely if it is re-surfaced as a proper car park - and Westlode Street.

Spalding Town Retailers’ Association chairman Darren Sutton says traders battling the downturn in business sparked by COVID-19 cannot face another body blow.

He said: “At the minute, it’s probably not the best time to put parking charges up, especially with how retail and business is at the minute.

“Businesses are struggling.”

Darren manages Charmed Interiors and Bookmark, both of which are opening part-time - 10am-3pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays - and says higher parking charges will be a blow to furloughed staff returning to work as well as potential customers.

District councillor Angela Newton said “it’s completely the wrong time” to put up parking charges, and parking fees should be considered alongside plans to regenerate Spalding and not separately.

She said putting up charges is a bad move for shoppers and shopworkers alike, saying it would be particularly hard on shopworkers.

Ian Canham, from Broadgate Group, said: “We have been in discussion with them (the council) about raising the cost of parking in the car park in line with the rest of the car parks in Spalding.”

Mr Canham said Broadgate had restricted the cost of a season ticket because "these are usually bought by people who work in town in shops, salons and offices".

Coun Gambba-Jones said Broadgate had agreed to change their charges to “bring them more in line with our charges”.

Council documents also reveal new parking charges for the Castle Sports Complex “dry side” but with centre users getting permits so they don’t have to pay the proposed: up to 1 hour - £1; up to 2 hours - £1.50; up to 3 hours - £2; and up to 4 hours - £2.50.

Sheep Market’s rate will go up from 80p to £1 for an hour.