A shop owner has cast doubt that money is being made from parking in Tilehurst complaining that they are ’empty’ after short stays were axed.
Reading Borough Council scrapped free 30-minute weekday parking at the Dunstall Close and Recreation Road car parks in March 2024.
The change was justified as the car parks generate revenue and can be costly to maintain.
However, the decision has proved unpopular with more than 2,700 people signing a petition against it and complaints that businesses are suffering.
Munir Butt, the owner of Butts Super News in School Road, which is next to the Dunstall Close car park has argued it is often empty.
Mr Butt said: “If I look at the car park, there’s no one there, how are they making that money?
“It affected our businesses a lot, people don’t come in the shop anymore.
“There’s just one car parked out there, there’s nothing. How are they making money? I don’t understand.
“Everybody is suffering here, it’s so quiet because of that. The banks closed, the parking has gone, now people park on neighbours’ driveways.
“There’s one car parked there, he’s just gone, people have completely gone. I don’t understand why they [the council] are telling lies.
“There’s hardly anyone there.”
The increase in fares has been justified by John Ennis (Labour, Southcote) lead councillor for transport, due to car park maintenance costs, which totalled £1,942,853 in 2022/23.
To that, Mr Butt said: “What maintenance? There’s only one person who looks after the car park – there’s nothing to maintain.
“There used to be a lot of people parking here – but now there’s nothing there, they don’t want to pay for an hour. That’s why it’s completely wrong.
“The businesses are closing because of this change.”
A council spokesperson said: “As reported to the council’s policy committee there has been a significant increase in income at the Dunstall Close and Recreation Road car parks since the removal of the first 30-minutes free rate.
“Most of the revenue at both car parks now comes from periods of up to one hour parking, at a fee of £1.
“There had previously been no change in parking charges at either car park since the COVID pandemic and the increased income helps to maintain the car parks and support the council’s wider activities.
“We fully recognise the importance of local shops to communities and have tried to keep parking fees as low as possible, as well as improving public transport and walking and cycling facilities to enable residents to access them by more sustainable means.
“A response to the petition to reinstate the free 30-minute rate was given at the time it was presented to councillors in October 2024.
“Given the financial pressures the council is facing, all options were assessed before changing parking charges but the failure to generate sufficient income from car parks places wider stresses on the council’s finances and the ability to deliver core services.”
