Frustration over Earley station car park price increase

Kerry Ann Rostron-Barrett uses Earley train station to commute into London for work. She usually buys a six-month parking ticket to park her car at the Station Road car park in Earley, which is right next to the station.

Until recently, a six-month parking ticket cost £303. But Dr Rostron-Barrett  has expressed alarm at a £175 increase in the cost of her ticket, an increase of 57 per cent.

Voicing her frustration on the Earley Residents Discussion Board Facebook page, she said: “My parking permit for Earley station car park is due for renewal.

“It’s gone from £303 for six months to £478!! Does anyone else think that’s a ridiculous increase?”

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While a commenter on Dr Rostron-Barrett’s post pointed out that £478 divided into six months is £2.65 per day, which is cheaper than the day rate of £7, she did admit that £478 is ‘a lot of money to pay in one go’ and a ‘month’s salary for some people’.

The Station Road car park is one of those where ticket prices have gone up for off-street car parks following a decision by Wokingham Borough Council’s executive committee.

The Station Road off street car park in Earley, operated by Wokingham Borough Council. Credit: James Aldridge. Local Democracy Reporting Service

The decision to increase charges was made at a meeting on Tuesday, March 21, and implemented in July.

However, the increases for season tickets are more modest than those first proposed.

It was originally proposed that season tickets would cost £550 for six months and £1,100 for a year.

Dated proposals for increases to off street car parking charges for car parks outside of Wokingham Town. Credit: Wokingham Borough Council

The initial proposed amount changed ahead of the executive committee meeting to £478 for six months and £950 for a year for off-street car parks in areas outside of Wokingham Town.

Councillor Paul Fishwick, executive member for active travel, transport and highways, has justified the increase in charges as an essential tough choice to balance council finances.

Cllr Fishwick (Liberal Democrats, Winnersh)said: “In our current financial position, we have had to make tough choices, and raising car park charges is one of them.

“We are not immune to the cost of living crisis, and, like residents, are having to make difficult choices to make sure we can keep providing our most essential services.”

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At the meeting when the increase was agreed, cllr Fishwick accused the previous Conservative administration of curbing potential revenue by not making incremental charge increases.

He said: “We are now picking up the consequences of their lack of action. Small increases in the past would have lessened the impact now.

“However, we are facing our worst financial pressures in decades, and we must find a way of continuing to maintain our highways to come to standard, including the filling of potholes.”