Cost of car parking rises in Exeter

It's gone up by 10% in council car parks across the city

Motorists in Exeter found their wallets being hit this morning as the inflation-busting 10 per cent hike in car parking charges came into force.

Parking charges have risen at every single one of the car parks managed by the city council.

It is the second massive rise in two years after charges rocketed last April, leaving some commuters £20 a week out of pocket after all-day charges rose

Councillors agreed to impose the 10 per cent rise for all stay lengths up to seven hours in February, but they were only implemented on Monday morning.

The new tariff signs had been erected last week, but until this morning, had been covered over by paper signs showing the old prices.

The increase in car parking charges of 10 per cent is expected to generate an increase of £764,000 on the 2018/19 target car park income budget.

The aim of the charges are also to cut congestion into the city as car park usage in 2018 rose by four per cent, despite the rise in prices last year.

When the price rises were agreed, Steve Carnell, Service Manager Community Safety & Enforcement, said that the council cannot reduce the amount of vehicles and congestion on the road without ‘reasonable and regular increases in tariffs’.

Cllr Phil Bialyk had added: “People are making choices to drive their cars into the city and we have to get them to change their attitudes. We want to continue the success of Exeter but it will not continue if people continue to clog up the streets in their cars and there is severe air pollution going forward.

“We have got to encourage people to use other modes of transport to come into the city as if we don’t then we will be responsible for allowing the city to die. We need to work with organisations like co-cars and increasing usage of electric bikes and we have to say give people alternatives. It gives you an intense pleasure when you zoom by stationary traffic on your bike.”

Cllr Andrew Leadbetter, leader of the opposition Conservative Group, was a ‘lone voice’ against the proposals, and voted against the price hikes.

Tariffs at Premium, Zone 1 and Zone 2 car parks have increased for all stay lengths up to seven hours by 10 per cent. All day parking charges remain static in Premium car parks, and have risen by £1 in Zone 1 and 2.

All tariffs at Zone 3 car parks have risen by 50p, but the cost of season tickets and business permits remains unchanged.

A four hour maximum limit has also been introduced at the King George V playing fields car park.