Ashford Borough Council’s proposals to increase parking charges in Ashford and Tenterden dropped after leadership outvoted

Ashford Borough Council has decided not to proceed with proposed increases in parking charges at 13 council-owned car parks, including those in Tenterden. The decision was made during a full council meeting, where a motion to freeze existing charges received majority support from councillors.

The council had previously suggested raising parking fees in September, citing the need to manage parking capacity and turnover effectively. Proposed increases included an 8% hike for various durations at car parks such as Vicarage Lane, Civic Centre, Stour Centre, Elwick Place, Recreation Ground Road, and Tenterden Leisure Centre. Additionally, a 17% increase was planned for other car parks, with on-street parking facing the largest proposed rise of 54%.

The motion to maintain current charges was put forward by Cllr Neil Bell, who highlighted the importance of supporting local businesses and the community during challenging economic times. Alongside freezing the charges, the motion also included plans for free parking after 3pm at Tenterden’s Bridewell Lane car park and a two-year review of borough parking policies.

While the proposal to eliminate free parking after 3pm at Elwick Place will proceed, it will be transferred to the new Edinburgh Road car park upon its opening in early November. The council had previously amended its proposals, removing a new flat-rate overnight charge from all car parks.

A petition initiated by Tenterden resident and town councillor Sue Ferguson, which garnered significant support, called for the scrapping of overnight parking charges.

During the council meeting, differing opinions emerged regarding the implications of the decision. While some councillors expressed satisfaction with the outcome, others raised concerns about the potential financial impact on the council's future budget. The council's leadership had framed the proposed increases as necessary for maintaining sustainable parking provision and ensuring fair charging for all users.