Parking charges and the minimum stay in Reading are rising this summer, with the council hiking fares at town and out‑of‑town car parks.
Reading Borough Council runs 12 car parks and made a net surplus of £2.174 million (£2,174,316) from them in 2024/25.
One-hour parking is being axed at Queens Road multi-storey: the £2.30 one-hour stay is gone and drivers must now stay for a minimum of two hours, paying £4.60.
Broad Street Mall and Civic B will also move to a two-hour minimum at £4.30. Fares will rise at places including Hills Meadow and Chester Street in Caversham, while Green Park station will see cuts to boost use.
The changes are expected to bring in an extra £244k in 2026/27 and were agreed at the council's policy committee. They will be implemented in August after the meeting on Monday, June 15.
John Ennis (Labour, Southcote), the lead councillor for transport, said: "The projected generation of increased money will make parking services sustainable."
"Any resulting surplus will be reinvested into transport and highway improvements."
A bid to bring back free 30-minute parking at two Tilehurst car parks was rejected. Councillor Anne Thompson (Liberal Democrats, Tilehurst) said: "I'd like to see the reintroduction of the free 30-minute parking at Dunstall Close and Recreation Road car parks. And the reason I'm asking for it, and asking for it now, which I know we've asked in the past, is that the environment remains challenging for the shops and businesses in Tilehurst village in particular, one business closed just a couple of months ago, the gift shop next to the Post Office close to Recreation Road car park. Other businesses I know are finding it challenging for the economic reasons that we're all aware of. That free half hour is such a useful service, there is a free two hours at Kensington Road car park, which is great, we're just asking for the free half hour."
Cllr Ennis replied: "I totally understand. You can understand as well the importance of making sure that parking services is sustainable with charges."
Car parks cost the council £2,364,704 to run in 2024/25, with £4,539,020 paid in fares, leaving the £2.174 million surplus. After the decision to axe 30-minute parking in Tilehurst in March 2024, the council is making £24,000 more a year.
James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter
