REVISED parking fees and charges are set to come into effect in Leicester’s council-run car parks and parking bays.
Leicester City Council has reviewed the cost of parking in its car parks, multi-storeys and on-street pay and display areas to help address rising running costs and ongoing challenges to council budgets.
It will be just the second time the council has increased parking fees and charges in over a decade and will bring these into line with other similar authorities and private car parking operators.
The changes also reflect recent increases in the national bus fare cap, from £2 to £3.
The changes are due to come into effect from mid-May.
The revised fee and charges mean that, in council-run city centre car parks, costs will start at £2.50 for a one-hour stay, up from the current £2. Costs for a three-hour stay will rise from £4 to £5, and from £5 to £6.30 for a four-hour stay.
Standard fees for evening parking in car parks will also be charged, with the cheaper Night Owl rates due to end.
On-street parking bays will see charges rise from £2 to £2.50 for one hour, with varying charges for longer stays depending on the location.
Free on-street parking on Sundays will stop, with standard rates being charged instead.
Car parking fees on the city’s parks will also rise, with costs starting at £2.20 for a two-hour stay, up from the current £2.
Parking charges on Victoria Park will increase by slightly more to bring it more closely in line with city centre car parks. Costs will start at £1.30 for a one-hour stay, up from £1. A two-hour stay will cost £2.50, up from the current £2.
City Mayor Peter Soulsby said: “Increasing car parking charges is not a decision we take lightly. However, running costs across our car parks and parking services have risen and, like most councils, we continue to face a severe budget crisis.
“With this in mind, we are introducing revised parking fees and charges that are proportionate and very similar to what other operators and cities are charging for car parking. We also need to ensure parking charges take into account current bus fares.
“Any additional revenue from our parking charges is always reinvested in highways and transport maintenance and improvements.
“In recent years, we have made significant investment in improvements to our car parks in the city centre and are proud to have been awarded a national Park Mark award in recognition of the high standards of safe and secure parking provided.”
It is estimated the changes will bring in an additional £1.1million in parking revenue. Around half of this will cover rising costs in the management, operation and enforcement of parking facilities, with the remaining £600,000 due to be ringfenced to offset budget pressures in highways and transport services.
The increased charges will absorb the 10p convenience fee charged when people use Pay by Phone.
Full details of the revised parking fees and charges can be found on the city council's website here