Concerns Rise Over Woodley Parking Fee Increases

Fears raised over parking fee hikes and charges at free car parks in Woodley and the neighbouring towns and villages.

Concerns are rising over potential hikes in parking fees at free car parks in Woodley and its surrounding areas.

Woodley, along with Earley and Shinfield, falls under Wokingham Borough Council, which is considering increasing parking charges. This has sparked worries among locals, who intend to voice their concerns at the upcoming full council meeting.

Questions will be addressed to Councillor Adrian Betteridge, the executive member for active travel, highways and transport. Resident Yusra Salman questions the rationale behind fees at Woodley precinct, asking what specific demand the charges aim to manage and how the revenue will benefit the precinct's infrastructure.

Funds from these charges are intended for reinvesting in car park maintenance and could also support traffic management, road safety, and public transport, among other services.

The Headley Road car park, which serves the precinct, has 205 spaces, including four for electric vehicles and 15 for disabled users. Additionally, the council is contemplating new fees at presently free car parks.

Conservative Councillor Rebecca Margetts suggests this could happen under the council's draft financial plan, affecting car parks in Shinfield, like those at School Green and Langley Mead.

Labour Councillor Andrew Gray highlights a petition signed by more than 2,000 residents against parking fees, questioning what the council will say to local users of the School Green centre—home to various community activities.

The School Green car park has 40 spaces, including one designated for disabled drivers. These crucial questions will be raised at the Wokingham Borough Council meeting on Thursday, November 27.

In March, Councillor Nagi Nagella presented a petition with over 1,500 signatures opposing charges at selected car parks, leading to an amendment stating that smaller car parks serving local shops should remain free, which passed at the meeting.

James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter