Keep free parking at car parks used for sport and recreation and in smaller car parks. - Wokingham Constituency Labour Party

Liberal Democrats at Wokingham Borough Council plan to introduce car parking fees at car parks serving sport, leisure and recreation facilities including Cantley Park (Wokingham), School Green (Shinfield), Shinfield and Ashenbury Park (Woodley).

The Liberal Democrats have said the parking charges will be similar to those at Dinton Pastures which costs £2.30 per hour. The charges will apply from 6am to 10pm and this could start as early as June.

Other parks which have not yet been named, but which could be included are Ryeish Green sports hub (Shinfield) and Chalfont Park (Earley).

Currently, users of Carnival Pool Leisure Centre in Wokingham get two hours free parking. This is also under consideration for removal. This means that free parking at Bulmershe Leisure Centre (Woodley) and Loddon Valley Leisure Centre (Earley) could also be under threat for a future expansion of paid parking.

Finally, smaller car parks which serve smaller parades of shops may become chargeable. Currently the Avery Car Park next to Nile Mile Road school is the only car park being considered but a future broadening of the scheme could include the car park next to the shops in Hudson Road, Woodley, and near the shop in Kingfisher Drive, Woodley.

Some of the impacts of these changes will be

Fewer people using leisure and recreation facilities
Cars parking on neighbouring residential streets and roads, causing traffic congestion and conflict with local residents
Increased costs for parents who want to watch their children play sports or use playgrounds
Increased costs for volunteers who ensure sports are provided at these sites
Reduced business for shops, risking their viability.

Before the car parking charges can be introduced, the Borough Council must amend its Traffic Regulation Order to make the car parks chargeable.

The amendment to the TRO must follow a legal process, including a consultation.

We want to stop the Plan before it reaches the TRO stage. If the TRO process goes ahead, we want as many people as possible to respond to the TRO consultation.

Please sign our petition to WBC and please opt in for updates on the campaign and to be notified when the TRO consultation starts.

Petition to Wokingham Borough Council: Do not introduce car parking fees in car parks which serve sport and recreation facilities and local shops.

Do not introduce parking charges at any car parks whose primary purpose is active involvement in sport or recreation, including removing the free parking at the Carnival Hub. Nor should Wokingham Borough Council introduce car parking charges in smaller car parks which serve local shops. Wokingham Borough Council must not amend its Traffic Regulation Orders to make currently free car parks chargeable.

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