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Parking charge increase warning
Plans to increase the cost of parking in car parks in Beaconsfield and Gerrards Cross have been slammed by councillors and businesses.
South Bucks District Council wants to increase the cost of parking by around 20 per cent so that a half hour would increase from 50p to 60p, while the cost for an hour would go up from £1 to £1.20. Parkers would be charged until 8pm, instead of 6pm now.
However it plans to encourage commuters off residential roads and into car parks by making season tickets cheaper, and by introducing season tickets at the Bulstrode Way car park in Gerrards Cross for the first time.
The cost of a season ticket would fall by £10, to £470 for six months in Gerrards Cross and to £390 for six months in Beaconsfield. The cost of a three month season ticket would also fall by £10.
Beaconsfield Town Council is opposing the plans. Gerrards Cross Parish Council has yet to consider them.
Andre de Marsac, of De Marsac Jewellers in Station Road, Beaconsfield, said: "What the hell are they doing? Shops are closing down, and staff are getting salary freezes or cuts.
"Any increase by any government body should be stalled until the economy has at least started to turn round."
He said there was already a waiting list for season tickets. SBDC confirmed that currently 96 of the 98 available season tickets in Beaconsfield are taken.
Councillor Bill Lidgate, portfolio holder for the environment at South Bucks District Council, said: "It's an opportunity for those who want to use car parks, and for businesses who want to buy season tickets for their staff, to do so at a cheaper rate."
A decision will be made by SBDC next month.
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The increased parking charges in Gerrards Cross would be Daylight Robbery! They are already double the cost of the Chilterns area. Most people park there just to buy a newspaper or a few groceries - making the visit quite costly. Why can't we have the free hour the same as Chalfont St Peter - what an asset that would be.
I note one of the car parks is to be re-surfaced this month - at what cost. There are plenty of roads in the area in far worse condition!
It's time South Bucks thought a bit more about the community - not everyone in Gerrards Cross is mega-rich!!
The increased parking charges in Gerrards Cross would be Daylight Robbery! They are already double the cost of the Chilterns area. Most people park there just to buy a newspaper or a few groceries - making the visit quite costly. Why can't we have the free hour same as Chalfont St Peter - what an asset that would be.
I note one of the car parks is to be re-surfaced this month - at what cost. There are plenty of roads in the area in far worse condition!
It's time South Bucks thought a bit more about the community - not everyone in Gerrards Cross is mega-rich!!