Surrey Conservative parking plans will hit market towns and villages hard

As a result of a new policy introduced by Conservative run Surrey County Council, all market towns and large villages will lose their free on-street parking during the course of the next year. In town centre locations charges will be 70p for half-an-hour and in most other locations 50p per half-hour. This will be a significant increase in parking cost for all residents across Surrey.

Speaking after the decision by Surrey's Conservative Cabinet Member for Transport approved the plans, County Councillor Stephen Cooksey (Dorking and the Holmwoods), Liberal Democrat Spokesman on Transportation said:

"Most market towns and large villages in Surrey have felt the consequences of recession for some time and have retail economies, which are fragile. This proposal is a further unnecessary blow, which will discourage short visits to local shops and result in even more pressure on already overcrowded residential streets.

"Residents will no longer have the opportunity of calling at a cashpoint, making a quick visit to a chemist or newsagent or delivering or collecting parcels from a dry cleaners or specialist shop without having to pay heavily for the privilege. There will be additional costs to retailers for window cleaners and other tradespeople carrying out necessary work to their premises.

"This is an unacceptable imposition on retailers and residents which can only damage local economies and inconvenience local people. Liberal Democrats in the affected market towns and large villages will oppose these moves strongly and I would encourage all members of the community to ensure that the County Council hears their views when statutory consultations take place later in the year.

"Currently in Surrey on-street parking charges are applied only in large towns such as Guildford and Walton and in some circumstances the fees that are collected are used to offset the cost of other local transport services. In smaller market towns and large villages on-street parking is free and the availability of these spaces helps to stimulate the local economy and provides a convenient way for local residents to make quick visits to local shops and services."

BACKGROUND

On Wednesday 12th January the County Council Cabinet member for Transportation agreed under delegated powers to the introduction of on-street car parking charges throughout Surrey. By March 2012 it is proposed that in every town and large village in Surrey all free on-street parking bays will be subject to a range of charges which in many cases will be higher than those imposed by Districts and Boroughs for off street parking.