Chesterfield residents' anger as council agrees to increase car parking charges

From April 1, the price to use the authority’s car parks will be 80p for 30 minutes (up from 70p), £1.60 for up to one hour (up from £1.40), £2.80 for up to two hours (up from £2.70) and £4.50 for up to four hours (up from £4.40). It will remain £3 for three hours.

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Councillor Kate Sarvent, the borough council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, told the Derbyshire Times: “We review our parking charges every year and unfortunately this year we have made the difficult decision to increase parking charges within our car parks. This is the first increase in charges in two years.

“We will continue to provide parking permits for residents that allows them to park before 10am and after 3pm Monday to Saturday and all-day Sunday for free. We will also continue to allow visitors to park for three hours for £3. We hope this will continue to encourage people to visit the town centre and to shop local.”

Councillors have also made a commitment not to increase car parking charges again next year if targets for the number of people using the borough’s car parks are met during 2020.

Commenting on social media, residents told of their anger at the hikes.

Michelle Blakemore said: “I used to come to town most Saturdays until a few years ago. I stopped because of the parking charges. Now I go to Meadowhall or Crystal Peaks because they have free parking.”

Simon Marriott described the decision as ‘crazy’ and added: “It’s no wonder the shops are going out of business.”

Jan Foster commented: “That’s right Chesterfield Borough Council – keep more people away from our dying town.”

Geoff Mitchell said: “Surely the aim of the borough council is to increase footfall in the town centre not discourage it?”

David Marper added: “Chesterfield is sinking.”

However, Gavin Heath refrained from being critical.

“If all anyone has got to moan about is a 10 or 20p increase in parking charges then there’s something wrong,” he said.

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