Following the publication of Wiltshire Council’s proposed car parking tariff changes, Wiltshire Conservatives have raised concerns about the consistency of outcomes across the county, with Malmesbury, Marlborough and Salisbury, favoured over other areas.
- Parking charges will rise by 20% in 2026
- 7am-7pm extended charging hours will generally apply in short-stay car parks (except Car Parks in Malmesbury and Marlborough High Street)
- Sunday tariffs will be aligned with weekday rates in short-stay car parks
- Proposed Sunday on-street charging in Salisbury, Marlborough High Street and Cross Hayes in Malmesbury will not be introduced
Cllr Nick Holder, Conservative spokesperson for Highways commented;
These parking tariff increases represent another challenge for local businesses and residents already facing significant economic pressures. It is also unacceptable that residents and businesses in Malmesbury, Marlborough and Salisbury have been prioritised over other towns in Wiltshire.
It seems to me that the Lib Dem administration is making decisions which support its political objectives in Malmesbury, Marlborough and Salisbury, and given the Lib Dems “fair” mantra, it is more than slightly ironic that towns such as Calne, Chippenham, Melksham and Trowbridge are effectively subsidising more affluent areas.
It is also important to remember that the minority Lib Dem administration relies on the support of Labour Councillors, and earlier this year Cllr Ricky Rogers (Salisbury Fisherton & Bemerton) publicly stated that reduced parking charges in Salisbury were his price for providing continued support to Ian Thorn and his administration.
