Plans to increase parking charges in several towns and cities have been met with anger by concerned residents who fear this will “kill the high streets”.


Sevenoaks City Council is proposing to increase both on and off-street parking charges from next year.


There were concerns about the maintenance of Bligh's Meadow car park in Sevenoaks. Photo: GoogleThere were concerns about the maintenance of Bligh's Meadow car park in Sevenoaks. Photo: Google
There were concerns about the maintenance of Bligh’s Meadow car park in Sevenoaks. Photo: Google

This will affect several car parks in Sevenoaks town centre, including Bligh’s Meadow, The Stag Theatre, Bradbourne, St Johns & St James, as well as the Bevan Place, Park Road and Station Road car parks in Swanley, and Darent, Quebec Avenue and Vicarage . Hill car parks in Westerham.


It comes after the local government agreed to consult on the new charges at a cabinet meeting on November 14.


Now, a month later, she is carrying out a consultation to gauge people’s views on the proposals, which, if approved, would result in motorists having to pay an extra 3%.


The council says the measure is being planned to cover the rising “costs of inflation”.


A social media post asking for responses to the survey said: “We are proposing to increase our parking charges by an average of 3% from April 2025.


Bradbourne car park in Sevenoaks. Image: GoogleBradbourne car park in Sevenoaks. Image: Google
Bradbourne car park in Sevenoaks. Image: Google

“The cost of providing our parking services has increased over the past year as we pay more for maintenance, business rates, energy bills and other operating costs.”


However, the move is not well received by some residents, who believe it is simply not necessary.



One woman said: “Absolutely insane – are you trying to kill the high street?”


While another frequent visitor to Sevenoaks town center added: “This is absolutely ridiculous. The prices are already ridiculously expensive compared to other parking garages in the surrounding areas.


“This, together with the astronomical rents that shops have to pay, will only mean that we lose our high street, which is already in trouble.


“The state of the holes in the Bligh car park does not give me any confidence that this money is going towards the maintenance of the car parks.


This, together with the astronomical rents that shops have to pay, will only mean that we lose our high street, which is already in trouble.


“Focus on rent control so we have more independent stores. Sevenoaks council is once again out of touch.”


Others labeled the proposal “greedy,” “short-sighted and “a tragic shame.”


“You don’t have to keep increasing parking rates,” explains another.


“If anything, you should lower them to encourage people to want to come to our city – not add more costs.”



At Bligh’s Meadow, parking costs would increase from £1 to £1.05 for 30 minutes, from £2 to £2.05 for an hour, from £4 to £4.10 for two hours, from £6 to £6, 20 for three hours and from £6 to £6.20 for three hours. £10 to £10.30 for up to four hours.


More information can be found here.


The council says people can have their say on the proposed changes before midnight on Sunday, December 22.


The committee will then meet again on February 13 to discuss the comments from this survey.



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