Town is set to wave farewell to free parking (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Town is set to wave farewell to free parking

2:34pm Thursday 23rd November 2006 in News

Tewkesbury could lose its last free council-owned car park, it was revealed this week.

As the borough council starts looking at ways of balancing next year's budget councillors are being asked to consider introducing charges at the Station Road car park.

A report, due to be discussed by the housing and environment committee on Monday, November 27 says there is no justifiable reason for the car park to remain free.

The 74-space site, behind Morrison's supermarket is, the report says, only 30 per cent full each day.

It adds that a nominal charge of just £1 per day would, if also introduced for the Back Lane car park in Winchcombe, bring in an annual income of £35,000.

In a further cost cutting exercise councillors will also consider either closing, or handing over to the parish council, the public toilets in Gander Lane.

When this matter was last raised the town council decided that it could not afford to do so.

Borough councillor Barbara Cromwell of the Tewkesbury Independent group said: "We are looking into this. We are opposed to any plans to increase parking charges in Tewkesbury or to close the toilets."

Also on the agenda is the improvement of the council's cleansing and rubbish collection system. They want to spend £65,000 on a smaller refuse lorry.