Proposed increase in car parking charges withdrawn
Plans to consult upon an increase in charges at Council-run car parks across the district have been withdrawn after a meeting on 21 September.
The Council’s Cabinet decided that it was not the right time to put up parking fees for fear of a negative effect on Arun’s businesses and shops, which have already been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
Councillor Mrs Samantha-Jayne Staniforth, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood Services, said: “Although the proposal is a relatively small increase of 2% and in line with inflation, its simply not the right time.
“We are seeing shops emptying left right and centre on the high street. You only have to look at these empty spaces to see the worrying financial times we are in. Let us not forget we are not post Covid yet, but still very much in the middle of a pandemic. We all hope each week that there will be an end to it but that hasn’t happened yet.
“If we introduce a rise in charges now, while so many people are hanging in there, this could be enough to tip them over the edge. We do not need more empty shops, which in turn, leads to more job losses for our residents too.
“It is a tricky balance and although this would bring in much-needed revenue when we as a Council are at a huge loss because of the Covid pandemic, I simply don’t think it’s the right time.
“I would rather delay this increase as long as we are able to further support our local high street economy. Much as we would love to not increase at all, I will have to consider this at a future date, but for now we have taken the decision to not increase parking charges across our district.”