Calls have been made for Westmorland and Furness Council to reduce car park charges in Penrith following increased charges implemented by the council at the start of April.
Charges in all council owned car parks in Penrith increased at the start of April with the cost of parking for 1 hour costing £1.70 and 2 hours costing £2.40.
Evolve Penrith said that it’s “making the call for Westmorland and Furness Council to support the town's local businesses and help in boosting footfall and attracting trade and visitors into Penrith by making a permanent reduction to car park charges in at least some of the councils pay and display car parks in the town.”
Evolve Penrith have already challenged the councils recent increase in the town’s carpark charges due to errors in the notice of change to the charges.
Evolve Penrith are call on Westmorland and Furness to harmonise parking charges by delivering reduced parking in at least two of the councils pay and displays car parks in Penrith to provide 1 hour for 70p and 2 hours for £1.20 and review all day charges in at least one of the carparks in Penrith to encourage day visitors to Penrith.
The council has this week scrapped what businesses and residents in Ulverston had called a ‘disproportionate’ car parking price hike in Ulverston after receiving a backlash to the rise in charges.
Westmorland and Furness Council has lowered the price of car parking at Buxton Place in Ulverston to 70p for a one hour stay and £1.20 for a stay up to two hours.
This comes after the council initially raised fares in Ulverston like in Penrith on April 1st. But following ‘community feedback’ the council has now lowered the fares to 70p for a stay up to one hour and £1.20 for a stay up to two hours.
A spokesperson for Westmorland and Furness Council speaking on the lowering of the parking charges in Ulverston said: “We are always happy to listen to and consider feedback from our communities and we have recognised that the change in fees proposed for Buxton Place was disproportionate and have taken steps to address this with the new charges of 70p for one hour and £1.20 for two hours”.
Ulverston Town Mayor said the lower parking charges would have a ‘positive impact’ on footfall in the town.
Evolve Penrith said they “believe that the council is currently providing a disproportionate advantage to other towns in the Westmorland and Furness district with Penrith facing a council-imposed disadvantage that is directly impacting the town economic prosperity and potential.”
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