Brentwood parking fees to increase by up to 36 per cent

The proposed fee increases coincide with plans to upgrade ticketing machines across the borough – including using ANPR technology at the Coptfold Road multi-storey car park to make it easier to pay.

The multi-storey car park charges are proposed to remain the same to also encourage more people to use that car park as an alternative to the oversubscribed surface car parks at Chatham Way and William Hunter Way where parking charges are set to increase.

All car parks will continue to offer 30 minutes free parking throughout the borough.

In addition, the 24-hour parking charge is set to be removed but the charge for parking for six hours or more is set to increase to £7 at Chatham Way and William Hunter Way.

Normal charges are set to increase in Chatham Way and William Hunter Way. One hour parking is set to go from £1.10 to £1.50 – a 36 per cent rise. Two hours is set to go from £2.20 to £2.50 and three hours from £3.30 to £3.50.

A £1.10 all-day parking charge for Sundays is set to be scrapped in all car parks except King Georges Playing Fields and a three-hour parking limit at Shenfield Car parks.

Brentwood Borough Council is proposing season ticket prices remain static at £120 a month and 1,230 for a year.

The proposed fees are based on calculating the costs required to administer and maintain car parking in the borough.

The parking fees and charges are set to increase and have been rounded to the nearest pound or 50p.

The Multi-Storey car park charges are proposed to remain the same as this car park provides an alternative to the oversubscribed surface car parks at Chatham Way and William Hunter Way.”

In the meantime, the council is investigating ways to improve the payment system currently on offer in the borough offering options of contactless payment, and app payments but keeping cash as an option as well.

A new ANPR system of payment is being planned for Brentwood’s multi-storey car park however efforts to upgrade ticketing machines across the rest of the borough are being hampered by contractual obligations.

The new system for the multi-storey at Coptfold Road is due to be installed and operational within the first quarter of 2024, the council has said.

Councillor David Kendall, Chair of the Finance, Assets, Investment and Recovery Committee, told the council on December 13: “The new system will utilize ANPR technology and increase the safety of the car park by creating a more secure car park. The ANPR technology will open the barrier and the gates of the car park when payment is made on exit.”

Season ticket holders’ and Becket house residents’ number plates will be entered into the system so they can enter and exit the car park.

He added the system will be installed and operational within the first quarter of 2024.

However, Cllr Kendall added that plans to upgrade machines across other car parks have been stymied by longstanding contractual agreements. The council is taking legal advice on the best way to resolve the situation. Payments can currently only be made with cash or a phone and pay system.

He added: “Rest assured my aim will be to replace those ticket machines um as soon as possible with ones that bring us up to the modern-day standard.”

Councillor Kendall, added: “Our proposals aim to deliver free Sunday car parking in many of our car parks for residents and visitors to our town centres and provide more support for staff who work in our town centres with a reduction in the cost of all-day parking and a freeze on season ticket prices. Whilst there may be increases in some of our car parking charges – we are proposing to keep the 30 minutes free and freeze the charges for the Multi-Storey car park.

“We have listened to residents and the local business community and come up with a package that provides practical support and investment in our car parks and their infrastructure to make sure they are fit for purpose. Any proposed changes to parking fees will not happen before April 2024.”