Plans to freeze parking charges in Wyre Forest

The proposals are part of a complete revamp of the charging system on Wyre Forest District Council owned car parks and will be discussed at a meeting on Thursday.

A final decision on the proposals, which includes cheaper parking charges for regular users and an almost halving of season ticket prices, will be made by the authority's cabinet on December 17.

Mike Parker, corporate director for economic prosperity and place, said: "The current schedule of charges is complex.

"These proposals aim to simplify the structure of charges and help local residents, visitors and businesses who pay to park in the council’s car parks by reducing or freezing charges.”

If approved, the new charges, which would come into effect on April 6 next year, would see a 30 per cent reduction in the cost of one hour's parking on council car parks – down from £1.40 to £1.

The charge for two hours would be frozen at £2. There would be a modest increase in the charge for 3 hours, from £2.80 to £3, however it will be cheaper to park all day at just £5 compared to the current £6.90.

The council’s range of season tickets would also be simplified with a 40 per cent cut in the cost of a full season ticket down from £703 to £400, which for people parking every weekday works out at less than £2 a day.

The proposals would see people consulted on a number of other significant changes including stopping the limited first hour of free parking which is currently available only on certain car parks, extending the charging period through to 9pm and a seasonal increase on the three hour rate to £4 and the day rate to £6 from April to October for car parks in Stourport and Bewdley.

There will also be a proposal to retain the simpler charging structure for two years by freezing car parking charges for 2021-22.