Parking prices rise after five years

4:37pm Monday 17th March 2008

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Motorists in south Oxfordshire are bracing themselves for the first hike in parking charges in five years.

South Oxfordshire District Council has raised its parking fees by 10p across the board. They will come into effect from April 1.

For overstayers, the current £60 penalty rises to £70, but is reduced to £35 if paid within 14 days.

The one-hour free parking concession stays, except in Wallingford's Goldsmiths Lane, where motorists can park for free for two hours.

In a report, head of environmental services John Backley said the aim was for parking to be self-financing, but the car parks would start to lose money by 2009 if prices did not rise now.

It added the policy was to encourage people to shop locally and to be competitive with neighbouring authorities.

Up to two hours' parking will rise to 80p, three hours' to £1.50 and five hours' to £1.80.

There are no changes to charges at smaller car parks in Church Road, Wheatley, Mill Stream, Benson, High Street, Chinnor, and Culham Lock.