All the changes to car park fees proposed by Cambridge City Council in bid to cut congestion
Daytime charges at council-run car parks in Cambridge could be increased by an average of five per cent, the authority has said.
The move is part of Cambridge City Council’s commitment to reducing congestion and improving air quality and encouraging the use of alternative transport options.
The council is also proposing to simplify the multi-storey car park tariff structure in response to user feedback. They would be reduced from four to two for each car park, with just one ‘peak time’ tariff and one ‘off-peak’ tariff, seven days a week.
Under the changes, an hour’s peak-time parking at the Grand Arcade would rise 30p to £3.60, while off-peak the charge would go up 40p to £3.10. While an hour’s parking at the weekend in the Grand Arcade would not change, the two-hour fee would rise 20p to £7.20 and the three-hour charge would go up 40p to £10.80.
At The Grafton East, an hour’s peak-time parking in the week would rise 10p to £3.20, while the two-hour charge would go up £1 to £6.20. There would be a decrease of 10p in the one-hour weekend charge to £3.20.
The proposed changes, which are subject to approval as part of the council’s budget setting process, would be introduced from April next year and can be seen in full online.
Free parking would continue to be in operation in the evenings and overnight under the proposals as it enables owners of electric vehicles to access charging points without incurring a parking fee.
The council's partnership with Connected Kerb has led to the installation of Electric Vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in some of the authority’s car parks. It is also in the process of being introduced into the Queen Anne Terrace multi-storey car park, and Gwydir Street and Campkin Road car parks. The council has a long-term objective to increase the number of EV charging bays to 600 over the next eight years.
Cllr Katie Thornburrow, executive councillor for planning, building control and infrastructure, said: “We believe the proposals for our car parks will offer a fair and clearer pricing structure for people using them. They will enable us to continue providing a first-class service there, while also playing a part in reducing congestion and improving air quality in Cambridge. We understand that travelling to Cambridge by car is convenient for many people and essential for some.
“However, we also have a duty to do as much as we can to reduce congestion in the city, improve air quality and encourage people to use electric vehicles or other sustainable forms of transport.”
The facilities impacted by the proposals include the multi-storey car parks at the Grand Arcade, Grafton East and West, Queen Anne Terrace, and Park Street, as well as parking at Adam and Eve Street, Castle Hill, Gwydir Street and Riverside.
The council is now seeking input from local businesses, employers, residents, car park users, and other stakeholders on these proposed adjustments to its off-street parking policy 2024-2025. Comments received on the proposals will be considered by Cllr Thornburrow, who will recommend amendments to the initial proposals, if necessary, before any changes are introduced next year subject to approval by councillors.
Comment at cambridge.citizenlab.co/en-GB/ by December 3.
