Parking charges and the minimum time you are allowed to park in Reading are both on the rise this summer.
Reading Borough Council manages 12 car parks across the town, allowing it to make money by charging people to park.
In the last financial year, 2024/25, the council made a net surplus of £2.174 million (£2,174,316) from car parks.
It is now set to make more from parking, as fares will increase and the minimum time people are allowed to park is also rising.
At the council’s Queens Road multi-storey car park, the £2.30 one-hour stay is being abolished – drivers must now stay for a minimum of two hours and pay £4.60.
The same is happening at Broad Street Mall and the Civic B car park with a slightly cheaper tariff of £4.30 for two hours.
Fares are also increasing at out-of-town car parks, such as Hills Meadow and Chester Street in Caversham.
While there will be increases at 11 locations, fares will actually go down at the Green Park station in Whitley, which opened in May 2023.
The fare reductions are being implemented to improve usage and better meet local demand.
The changes are projected to generate £244k in additional income for 2026/27 financial year.
The reforms to parking were agreed at a meeting of the council’s policy committee.
John Ennis (Labour, Southcote), the lead councillor for transport, said: “The projected generation of increased money will make parking services sustainable.
“Any resulting surplus will be reinvested into transport and highway improvements.”
A push to reinstate free 30-minute parking at two car parks in Tilehurst was rejected at the meeting.
Councillor Anne Thompson (Liberal Democrats, Tilehurst) said: “I’d like to see the reintroduction of the free 30-minute parking at Dunstall Close and Recreation Road car parks.
“And the reason I’m asking for it, and asking for it now, which I know we’ve asked in the past, is that the environment remains challenging for the shops and businesses in Tilehurst village in particular, one business closed just a couple of months ago, the gift shop next to the Post Office close to Recreation Road car park.
“Other businesses I know are finding it challenging for the economic reasons that we’re all aware of.
“That free half hour is such a useful service, there is a free two hours at Kensington Road car park, which is great, we’re just asking for the free half hour.”
Cllr Ennis said: “I totally understand. You can understand as well the importance of making sure that parking services is sustainable with charges.”
Car parks cost the council £2,364,704 to manage in 2024/25, with £4,539,020 being paid in fares, leaving it with a £2.174 million surplus.
Following the decision to axe 30-minute parking at the Tilehurst car parks in March 2024, the council is making £24,000 more each year.
The changes will be implemented in August after the meeting on Monday, June 15.
