- Inflation-busting hikes in parking charges ‘scared away’ drivers from Brighton
- The council was facing a £1.16m shortfall in parking revenue due to the rise
Brighton City Council has been forced to slash parking charges at the tourist hotspot after the £33.50-a-day fee was driving away daytrippers.
City officials found that after dramatically increasing parking charges in the south coast city, the amount of revenue from parking decreased.
Over the next 12 months it was predicted that parking fees could fall by some £1.16million – putting further pressure on already-stressed budgets.
In May 2023, Labour retook control of Brighton City Council from the Green Party and reversed measures designed to discourage visitors from driving to the area.
The former council leadership hoped by making the area ‘car free’ it would make the area more pleasant for visitors and increase footfall.
Motorists are being invited back to Brighton after the City Council announced it is slashing the price of parking in the area
According to the Telegraph, the new council leadership has announced a u-turn due to the damage caused to the tourist industry and local businesses.
Cllr Trevor Muten, the cabinet member for transport, told The Telegraphs that parking fees had ‘increased to the extent they have become more of a deterrent than an incentive for some visitors’.
Tory Cllr Alistair McNair, who leads the council’s opposition group said: ‘Parking revenue has been falling and the council has a reputation for being anti-car.’
‘We hope resident permit holders also get a reduction in their fees and this city starts to be car-friendly, which also means family and disabled-friendly.
‘This parking charge reduction, while welcome, is a gamble as revenue could fall further because the city’s reputation has been tarnished for years.’
With the massive increase in parking charges, council owned car parks were less busy and generated less revenue.
Among the plans being considered are reduced parking charges at night with special evening tariffs to boost the night-time economy.
Horrified council officials found that ramping up the cost of parking had significantly reduced the amount of money collected
