When and how parking charges will change in Wiltshire

The cost of parking in Wiltshire is set to rise for the first time in four years in a bid to reflect "increasing costs".

Wiltshire Council said changes - such as a 20% increase in pay and display parking - will come into force on 1 September.

Parking charges have not risen in Wiltshire since 2022 and the council said the changes follow a public consultation which received 1,762 responses.

Martin Smith, the council's cabinet member for highways, said: "Given significant inflation during that time, we had to raise them now to help pay for the increasing costs in providing the service and to reinvest in our wider transport infrastructure, including our rural bus network."

From 1 September, pay and display parking charges will increase by an average of 20%, rounded to the nearest 10p.

The council says season ticket and permit charges will also increase.

Elsewhere, weekday parking charges in the county's short-stay car parks will be extended by an hour in the morning and an hour in the evening, to cover between 07:00 BST and 19:00.

Charges will also be brought in for weekend use of selected council-owned car parks such as County Hall in Trowbridge and the Bridge Centre in Chippenham.

Long-stay car parks in Wiltshire are unaffected and will keep their existing 08:00 to 18:00 hours, except for Dunns Lane car park in Castle Combe which will be 07:00 to 19:00. The cost of an all day ticket there will rise from £5.60 to £6.60.

The council proposed starting Sunday charging hours at 07:00, but this will not happen and they will continue to start at 10:00.

Sunday on-street parking charges will not be introduced in Salisbury despite previous suggestions they would be. It comes after religious leaders said charges could impact congregation sizes and told the BBC "it's as though we are being charged to pray".

Sunday charging will not be introduced at Cross Hayes, Malmesbury, or Marlborough High Street car parks, as these are on-street car parks.

Nick Holder, councillor for Bowerhill near Melksham, told the BBC the rise in charges was "another kick in the teeth for local businesses and residents already facing significant economic pressures" and claimed high street businesses had expressed concerns to him on if the changes will impact footfall.

And previously Philippa Huber, a photographer who works from The Shambles Market Hall in Devizes, also warned about any increase to parking charges on retailers.

She said: "We need to keep encouraging people to come, not put in more inconveniences or price hikes in their way to deter them."

Chris Greenwood, a parish councillor for nearby Rowde, said changes could "drive people further away from the town."

Martin Smith, cabinet member for highways, said: "We have listened to feedback we received during the consultation and made several changes to our original proposals as a result.

"These changes strike a balance between supporting our town and city centres, managing parking effectively and ensuring we can continue to invest in transport and highways services across Wiltshire."

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