New parking charges in Stafford and Stone defended

Evening and Sunday parking charges have also been introduced at Stafford Borough Council-run car parks in Stafford and Stone where it was previously free to use them.

But the changes, announced last year in the authority’s fees and charges review, met with strong opposition from Stone businesses, residents, town councillors and churchgoers.

At a recent Stone Town Council meeting the borough authority was accused of treating Stone like a “cash cow” to raise more money.

And the church wardens at Christ Church, located next to the Christchurch Way car park run by the borough council, collected a 226-name petition against the new Sunday and evening charges.

Alongside the petition there were objections sent to the borough council by 12 residents, the Parochial Church Council of Christ Church, a town centre worker, Stone Town Council, town councillor Ian Fordham, three business owners and Stone Traders Group.

But Councillor Frances Beatty, cabinet member for economic development and planning, said there had been no objections received in response to the Stafford car park changes.

She told Thursday’s cabinet meeting: “We have considered all the responses. The point I would like to make is the charge increase is 10p – so the issue around a 10p rise in parking fees seems a bit excessive.

“These fees haven’t gone up for four years – some of the charges haven’t gone up since 2008. In comparison with other towns our charges are extremely reasonable. Our weekend and evening charges are extremely modest.

“I’m also pleased to say the money is used wisely and sensibly as you would expect. Our maintenance for our car parks is very important to keep them in a good state and it is the same at weekends as it is during the week –we have 24/7 maintenance.

“We are investing in charging points for electric vehicles and continue to introduce paying by phone to make parking convenient for our population.”

Cabinet members approved three off-street parking orders covering Stafford, Stone and the new Waterfront Car Park.

A cabinet report said: “The purpose of the three orders is to introduce changes to fees and charges, days and hours of operation, and to include additional parking restrictions in relation to the various off-street car parks located within Stafford and Stone town centres.

“The orders also set out the powers of enforcement in the event of there being a contravention of any provision of the orders. The existing car parking orders currently in force will also be revoked once the new orders take effect.”