Parking charge changes confirmed (From Bucks Free Press)

Parking charge changes in Chiltern district confirmed

2:38pm Thursday 9th February 2012 in Prestwood & Great Missenden By Andy Carswell

LONG-TERM car parking charges in the Chiltern district are to increase - but not by as much as first planned.

The biggest increase would have seen an all-day parking ticket at Chesham station rise from £3.20 to £4 - a rise of 25 per cent.

But members of Chiltern District Council's cabinet were persuaded against the hike, instead increasing the charge to £3.50, by opposition councillor Peter Jones.

He argued recent timetable changes had left commuters angry and that a 25 per cent rise in parking charges would lead to even fewer people using Chesham station.

Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Jones said "I have been listening to commuters and decided it was time to speak up for them.

"I am very pleased that the cabinet accepted my arguments. Without my intervention the 25 per cent increase would have gone through, which would not have been right for Chesham."

The increase from £3.20 to £3.50 is in line with all day charges in the rest of the district's surface car parks. It remains £5 in the Amersham multi storey car park.

Season tickets at Chesham station are now £682.50 - down from the £780 initially put forward by the council.

The cost of a three hour stay in Chiltern District Council-run car parks has risen from £1.70 to £1.80, with an increase to £2 having been originally suggested.

A four hour stay now costs £2.40 - up from £2.20 - after the council rejected the chance to increase it to £2.50.

Charges for one hour and two hour stays in the authority's car parks remain at 60p and £1.20 respectively.

The council said the increases were needed to help pay for upgrades to the car parks, after improved lighting and security was installed.