Council questions free Christmas parking as charges set to be raised

PARKING charges in an area of Derbyshire could be hiked as the council searches for “critical” income and to avoid higher tax increases.

Derbyshire Dales District Council has not had a full car parking review since 2013, though it had a minor study in 2017.

But with the authority bracing itself for financial uncertainty, it is now contemplating raising charges.

It made £2.5 million in parking charges last year, with the authority heavily relying on these fees and council tax to pay for services.

While the Derbyshire Dales geographically includes the Peak District National Park, the site controls the vast majority of car parks in the area, though there are a number of council-run car parks.

Potential changes to the current policy could see charges raised every year – alongside other paid-for council services which are already increased annually.

The council is also to consider an “illuminations tariff”, an extra fee for parking during the Matlock Illuminations event lasting for the six weeks it is held each year. It is also to consider if the annual free

Christmas parking scheme is effective, due to the amount of money which is lost in parking fees.

The same will be considered for the current residents’ parking permit scheme. The council is also to explore whether it could bring in different parking charges at night time – in a bid to “encourage the development of the night time economy”. It is also considering whether 10 regulated and unregulated car parks across the Dales – including Ashbourne, Matlock and Wirksworth – should become charged or become free.

The council said it would also look to “explore opportunities to increase capacity and maximise income in those district council car parks which regularly operate at or near to capacity”.