Increased parking fees have come into effect across Kingston.
New parking charges, announced in February, have been implemented, with motorists seeing parking prices triple to £3.90 in some places, including Fairfield road, Ashdown Road and Old London road.
Car owners who spoke to the Kingston Courier questioned the hikes.
Anurag Panchal said: “Yesterday, I paid £4.90 for 4 hour parking, and today, I paid £10.40 for three hours in the same spot. It doesn’t seem reasonable to me.”
Alfred Chambers explained that he would use a different means of transport in future. He said: “I’ll have to get my bus and train pass sorted quickly because I won’t be able to pay the parking charges.”
Cllr Nicola Nardelli, defending the price rises, said: “Our parking charges are set to deliver on our transport policy objectives and the network management responsibilities.
“Any surplus above the cost of running that service through the street parking can only be applied to certain expenditures which are concessionary fares and highway maintenance.”
Concessionary fares include: 60+ Oyster card, hopper fare, disabled freedom pass, Jobcentre plus travel discount card and Taxicard schemes.
Convenience fees paid by motorists on the RingGo app will remain the same price despite the parking fee hike.
A convenience fee is an extra charge that customers must pay to extend the amount of time in a parking space.
The new charges come after an overall increase on council tax across the Borough of Kingston.
Cllr Nardelli has said the parking increase will contribute to the council general fund which the council will use to contribute to road maintenance and concessionary travel.
“From the increases, the council will contribute at least seven million pounds from the general fund on highways expenditure and the contribution to concessionary travel is slightly north of four million pounds. These funds need to come from somewhere,” she said.
Parking plans for Kingston leisure centre
Kingston Council has also announced plans to provide parking in the Kingston leisure centre, projected to open in spring 2027.
The leisure centre is currently under construction. However, following the parking charge announcements in a council meeting, questions were raised as to whether the new site will provide this.
Cllr Alison Holt confirmed that although there will be parking, it will only be for specific individuals.
“Onsite provision has been made for two disabled parking spaces to be provided as well as two bays for coach parking to support swimming lessons,” she said.
The council have said that the reasons for the limited parking spaces is to protect the green spaces surrounding the leisure centre and maximise space.
The former Kingfisher leisure centre site did not have parking.
