Wiltshire Council Cabinet approves Parking Plan and charges review

Wiltshire Council’s Cabinet has today approved the Parking Plan 2026-2030 and a review of parking charges across the county, paving the way for what they call a "modern, inclusive, and financially sustainable parking service."

The Parking Plan sets out a forward-thinking approach to managing parking that supports the council’s Local Transport Plan (LTP4) and balances accessibility, sustainability, and economic growth. It aims to improve the parking experience for residents, businesses, and visitors, while ensuring the service is self-financing.

It contains a range of measures designed to modernise and improve parking across Wiltshire. These include making better use of council assets by reducing underused car parks and exploring commercial opportunities, introducing biennial reviews of parking charges to ensure fairness and consistency, and updating resident permits and event parking policies.

The plan also focuses on technology improvements with multiple payment options, including cash, enhanced signage and wayfinding and stronger enforcement.

Alongside the Parking Plan, Cabinet has also approved proposed changes to parking tariffs to keep the service competitive and financially sustainable. Parking tariffs have remained unchanged since 2022, despite significant inflationary pressures, so the proposed tariffs will help maintain fairness and support essential transport services. The consultation on the proposals will start in the spring.

The proposed tariffs include increasing on-street and off-street parking tariffs across Wiltshire, extending chargeable hours to 7am-7pm, aligning Sunday charges with weekday rates, adjusting permit fees in line with tariff changes, and reintroducing on-street Sunday charges in Salisbury.

If changes are made to tariffs, they will be introduced later this year, with a second adjustment planned for 2028 following a statutory consultation.

Cllr Martin Smith, Cabinet Member for Highways, Streetscene and Flooding, said: “Our Parking Plan 2026–2030 is a bold step forward in creating a modern, inclusive, and sustainable parking service for Wiltshire.

“It balances accessibility with environmental and economic priorities, ensuring that parking supports residents, businesses, and visitors, while remaining financially viable.

“Parking tariffs haven’t changed in Wiltshire since 2022, despite significant inflation since then, so by introducing fair and consistent tariff reviews, improving technology, and enhancing facilities, we are future-proofing our service and making it easier for everyone to park responsibly.

“There will now be a public consultation on the proposed parking tariff changes in the spring.

“These proposed changes will also help fund vital transport services, including rural buses, ensuring we deliver a joined-up approach to travel across the county.”

However, Wiltshire Conservatives raised significant concerns about the Lib Dem Administration’s proposed parking plan and huge parking fee increases at the meeting.

The proposals include increasing on-street and off-street parking tariffs across Wiltshire significantly – in some cases, increases of 70%, extending chargeable hours to 7 am-7 pm, aligning Sunday charges with weekday rates, and reintroducing on-street Sunday charges in Salisbury.

Cllr Richard Clewer said following the meeting, “It is clear that the Lib Dem Administration has run out of ideas and is treating Car Parking as a Cash Cow to shore up their imploding budget whilst hiding vital financial information from Councillors.  As we have seen nationally, with the Labour Government hammering small businesses and the hospitality sector, Wiltshire Council Lib Dems do not understand basic economics, and their analysis of the financial impact simply does not add up.  I am really concerned for the future of our high streets and hospitality businesses if these huge increases to parking charges, extending charging hours to 7 am-7 pm, and introducing Sunday charges, are implemented.”

Cllr Clewer went on to say, “I am also very concerned that the Lib Dems are hiding these increases behind a 'Public Consultation' – saying that Wiltshire residents and businesses will have the opportunity contribute.  Frankly, this is disingenuous; a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) Consultation is in no way the full and comprehensive public consultation process that is warranted for such significant changes for residents and businesses.”

Full details of the proposals are available at Agenda - Democratic Services - Wiltshire Council