Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Making car park fees cheaper ‘would increase air pollution’
Cost of parking in city centre set to rise - but other sites could see discounts
Savvy shoppers should use car parks on the periphery of Canterbury city centre rather than those nearer the high street from next year, when new rates are likely to be introduced. That’s the advice of council bosses proposing to lower fees by 30p at Castle Street, Holman’s Meadow and Station Road West, while increasing the hourly charge at central car parks such as Watling Street from £2.10 to £2.80.
It means there will be a £1 difference per hour between those on the edge of the city and those nearer the centre.
The Tory-led authority hopes the lower charge at some car parks will encourage more drivers to use them.
But Labour councillor Valerie Kenny has warned against introducing the cheaper fees as she fears they will lead to a rise in air pollution. Speaking at a virtual draft budget meeting last Wednesday, she said: “I am concerned
about the reduction in charges. “One of our aims is to improve the air quality in Canterbury and I am concerned that if we then provide cheaper car parks, people will then start driving in when we are trying to encourage them to walk or use park and ride.
“We will then be contributing
to poorer air quality. We should have much more concern for the quality of the air in the middle of Canterbury - and need not encourage people to drive to car parks.”
But council leader Ben Fitter-harding believes directing more people to take advantage of the lesser-used car parks
will combat air pollution and encourage residents to support the city’s economy. “People will still drive in regardless of the price,” he said. “It’s important we use our pricing to mitigate congestion and air quality problems around some of those car parks that are heavily over-subscribed.
“If you went to Watling Street at the weekend you’d likely have queued to get in and out. So there are air quality benefits to directing others to use other available spaces.
“I also think providing our residents with cheaper options to park is helpful to our economic recovery post-covid by helping out our businesses.” Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Fitter-harding said: “A £1 difference will be very beneficial to residents who don’t mind walking a bit further. “You could leave the likes of Watling Street for day visitors and let them pay the higher rates.”
As part of the council’s proposals, there will be smaller, 30p hourly increases at Whitefriars, Pound Lane, St Radigund’s and Northgate car parks.
The proposals are now going out to public consultation before a final decision is made in February and the new charges introduced on April 1.
See pages 24-25 for Cllr Fitter-harding and Labour councillor Dave Wilson's views on the budget.