Surrey Heath Borough Council have set-up a survey asking residents' views on the seventeen car parks the local authority owns.
The survey, set-up the Liberal Democrat ran administration, is asking for thoughts and opinions on these car parks and off-street parking provisions across the Borough. Within the survey, the question is raised: "Would you be willing to pay a slightly higher fee within council-owned car parks if it meant improved facilities and services?"
At previous Council meetings, the subject of raising charges as a means of generating revenue for the Council has been raised.
Commenting, Cllr Paul Deach stated:
"When I was a councillor at SHBC, the administration proposed several changes, including increasing parking charges and removing the free period altogether from all of its village car parks.
"I launched my own borough-wide survey to get a feel for what the Surrey Heath Community thought of the proposals. Cross-party councillors supported this move, and the survey received many respondents from across the Borough. 83% of which stated they did not support the introduction of parking charges at the village car parks in the Borough.
"The pressure I put on the executive committee at the time meant a free period of 1 hour for users instead of doing away with the free period altogether. However, charges were introduced at the village car parks. The only council-owned car park in the Borough not to have any changes imposed was the one in Deepcut, my own ward.
"It was not a complete victory, but I was happy to have at least applied enough pressure to keep a one-hour free period at all village car parks across the Borough.
"My view, which was not in line with all members of my own political group, was that to stimulate local economic development in the villages, we needed to come up with something a bit more radical than increasing car parking charges.
"The cynic in me suspects that this consultation will only lead to increased parking charges across SHBC-owned car parks."
While I hope I am wrong, I do encourage all residents to complete the consultation survey."
Cllr Trefor Hogg added:
"Parking charges could rise in Camberley following a 'public consultation'.
"Surrey Heath Borough Council has set up a survey to get residents' views on the 17 car parks the authority owns, included at the end of a series of questions there is a multi-choice question on charges. That comes after lots of questions about possible improvements. You might almost miss the option for objecting to an increase.
"Strangely it doesn't show up as a consultation on the SHBC Website and closes in just a few days."
The survey until the 14th January, and you can have your say here.
Pictured, Camberley Main Square car park and Knoll Road car park
