Will parking charges kill Bagshot?

12.00.00am GMT Tue 3rd Mar 2009

Surrey Heath Borough Council is planning new parking charges for Village car parks.

Bagshot is just one of the villages that would be included. The first two hours would be free, then even a few minutes more would cost £2.50, the same cost as for a whole day's parking. A shop worker might face a bill of £15 a week out of their wages and a pensioner could pay an extra £2.50 when they have a perm. Residents fear it may increase parking on back roads and block access to homes.

Councillor Meurig Williams argued at the committee that this was too steep. "There should be a graded increase in cost after the free time. The plan would put off people who want to use several local shops and services, or visit friends. Local businesses may be hit. It's wrong to put more pressure on our fragile village economy."

Councillor Gret Woodason said, "Two hours free parking is not enough. People also come in to Bagshot for hairdressers, physiotherapy, to see the dentist or to have a meal. We're working to keep sustainable communities, not to have our village end up like a ghost town with empty shopfronts."