SOUTH Gloucestershire Council has introduced controversial new car parking charges in 22 car parks, including four in Staple Hill and one in Mangotsfield.
From May 19 drivers have had to pay to park in council-owned and managed car parks in Byron Place, Haynes Lane and Page Road in Staple Hill, and at St James Street in Mangotsfield.
Further afield, car parks at Kings Chase shopping centre in Kingswood and at Yate Leisure Centre will also be subject to charges, although leisure centre customers will be able to park free for up to four hours.
Blue badge holders will also be able to park free for up to four hours in any car park.
Councillors backed a plan to introduce charges last year, with the aim of raising £800,000 per year.
The charges have been opposed by businesses, with Staple Hill Chamber of Trade chair George Georgiou describing them as “a nail in the high street’s coffin” after the details were confirmed.
Car parks which are not owned by the council, including the Co-op car park in Downend, Tesco in Staple Hill and the Mall at Cribbs Causeway, are not affected by the charges.
In Staple Hill the main Page Road car park has become a short stay car park, where charges range from 70p for an hour to £5 for up to four hours.
The nearby Page Road/Kendall Road car park will be a long stay car park, where charges range from £3 for the first four hours to £5 for over six hours, with season tickets available for regular users.
Long stay charges have also been introduced at the Byron Road car park opposite Tesco in Staple Hill, which was a short stay car park before charges were introduced, and at Haynes Lane, off Pendennis Road.
The St James Street car park in Mangotsfield is split between short and long stay parking.
The council is including allocated spaces where people can park free for up to 30 minutes in short-stay car parks. There are five in Page Road, two in St James Street and seven at Kings Chase.
Drivers do not need a ticket to park in the free spaces, which the council says will be enforced by parking patrols.
Machines to take payments have been installed along with new signs with details of charges, which are in force from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday.
Drivers will be able to pay at the machine using contactless cards or smartphones, make a phone call to pay by card or use an app called MiPermit.
Council cabinet member for local place Sean Rhodes said: “The scheme we are introducing is simple and relatively cheap compared to neighbouring authorities.
“It doesn’t apply to all car parks, but where it does apply, the money we bring in will help protect essential services into the future.”
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