The cost of parking in Merton is set to rocket by up to 50 per cent after the council approved plans in a move the opposition said will hurt small businesses.

The Labour-run council will increase the cost of parking across the borough.

In Francis Grove, Wimbledon, the tariff will increase by 50 per cent from £2 to £3.

In St George’s Road, Wimbledon, the cost per hour will rise from £2.90 to £3.60.

In St Mary’s Road, this will hike from £1.90 to £2.40 per hour and in The Crescent, Wimbledon Park it will go from £1.80 in some places to £2.40 – a 33 per cent increase.

In some areas the cost will go down.   

The hikes will be implemented by the end of April at on-street parking spaces across the borough. 

CORRECTION: This story was amended on Wednesday, March 25, after Merton Council pointed out on that day a mistake in interpreting the figures on a council report. The parking charges were originally reported to be increasing by up to 140 per cent and include charges in car parks.

 

Wimbledon Times:

The council had planned to implement 10 per cent rises from 2013 but delays in doing that have meant that it now needs to bring in higher charges, according to Councillor Judy Saunders, cabinet member for environmental cleanliness and parking.

In addition to the increases the council is in the process of selling-off New Wimbledon Theatre car park while the Morrisons car park in Wimbledon town centre could go in 2019.

The New Wimbledon Theatre Car Park in The Broadway - which is nearly always full of cars - is being sold off by the council to private bidders.

A spokesman said the council is currently assessing the bids received for use of the site following a tendering process which ended in January.

Defending the proposed parking charge increases, Coun Saunders said: "Following a survey of parking charges we have listened to residents’ feedback and simplified our tariffs.

"The fact that we haven’t raised pay and display costs for four years and we have also frozen residents’ and visitors’ parking permits for the past four years shows our commitment to making parking fairer in Merton."

The proposed changes to car parking tariffs were called in by Merton Conservatives but a decision was made not to scrutinise the proposals.

Councillor Suzanne Grocott, Conservative business spokesperson said: "Labour’s decision is an anti- business response to what was a request from residents for a pro-business solution.

"The cabinet member admitted these price hikes will knowingly reduce the number of people using Merton’s small businesses.

"Yet far from only affecting visitors to the borough, this decision is also a stealth tax on the many residents who want to support their local shops."

Documents released ahead of a Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Panel on Wednesday, March 18, said the increase will hit visiting motorists hardest rather than residents.

Apparently the changes to 341 pay and display machines in Wimbledon, Raynes Park, Morden, Mitcham and Colliers Wood would create spaces for resident and visitor permit holders to park in shared-use bays as the new pricing structure is likely to deter visitors, Coun Saunders said.

The council report claimed the changes are a direct result of the results of the Town Centre Survey in 2012 of all of the borough’s town centres which highlighted a desire for a simplified pricing structure.

As well as selling the theatre car park, the council is also considering alternatives for the Morrisons car park when covenant runs out in 2019.

One proposal is for a concert hall which has had £1m backing for the ambitious project.

What do you think? Will you pay more to park your car in Merton? Leave your comment below.