Car parking charges in Ashford to rise
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Car parking charges in Ashford are going up by more than four
times the rate of inflation.
But the costs are only catching up with the higher charges of
Canterbury and Folkestone.
From next Thursday, costs in Ashford per hour shoot up
from 80p to 90p, a rise of 12.5 per cent compared with the latest
rate of inflation of 3 per cent.
But charges in Canterbury city centre are already as much as 90p
an hour and in Folkestone it is £1.10 in the town centre.
The new Ashford prices brought a mixed reaction from traders and
drivers in the town centre.
Diane Lewis, of the Chocolate Box newsagent in Ashford High
Street, said: “It is concerning because it could put people off
from coming to the town centre.”
But motorist Rebecca Copeland, of Pilgrim Spring
Folkestone, said: “It is still cheap because car park charges are
even higher in in my town.”
Driver Gill Richardson, of Shadoxhurst, said: “I’d rather not
pay more but if it has to go up, it has to go up.”
Ashford Borough Council says there will also be equivalent
increases in long stays of four or more hours, coach parking and
season ticket costs.
And on-street pay and display charges will come in line with car
park ones to give town centre residents more chance to park near
their homes.
Thursday, March 25 2010
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