Staffordshire Moorlands District Council is considering new charges as part of a parking overhaul

Charges could be introduced on free car parks – potentially raising more than £100,000 a year for a council. Staffordshire Moorlands District Council is looking at charging motorists for using 10 council-owned car parks, as part of a major overhaul of parking.

Council chiefs are also considering bringing in longer charging periods and overnight charging, as well as automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) and cashless-only payments on its car parks. The district council’s medium term financial plan calls for £180,000 of income generation, and parking has been identified as an area where more money could be raised.

According to a council report, the authority has had an ‘historic underutilisation’ of parking income compared to its neighbours. The report says the changes could also help the council promote alternative transport and have a ‘greater climate impact’.

Introducing charges on the 10 car parks, which together provide 309 parking bays, could raise an estimated £103,750 a year. But there would be an initial set-up cost of around £3,750 per car park, and ongoing costs of £60 per bay per year.

The car parks are:

• Angle Street, Leek

• Churnet View Road, Oakamoor

• Chapel Street, Forsbrook

• Uttoxeter Road (West), Blythe Bridge

• Uttoxeter Road (East), Blythe Bridge

• Carr Lane, Wetton

• Mill Hayes Playing Field, Biddulph

• Biddulph Grange Country Park, Biddulph

• Birchall Playing Fields, Leek

• Old Road, Tean

The council is planning to introduce ANPR, cashess-only payments, overnight charging and longer charging periods on a trial basis, ‘with a view to wider roll-out subject to the results of trials’.

The council currently charges on its car parks between the hours of 9.30am and 3.30pm, which is the shortest charging period among all councils in Staffordshire. Extending the charging period to 6pm would bring SMDC more in line with neighbouring authorities and generate extra income, but the report warns that it could deter visits ‘if not implemented appropriately’.

The report says that all the proposed changes will ‘deeper exploration to identify the most suitable locations, frameworks for delivery, and clear communication and publicity’.

Charlotte Atkins, portfolio holder for services, said: “Parking charges should cover the cost of maintaining the car parks, instead of that coming out of general taxation, which means that taxpayers who do not drive are subsidising the car parks.

“Our parking charges in the Staffordshire Moorlands have been relatively low compared to other areas. But we also have to consider the impact charges will have on our high street businesses. We need to have parking policies which are right for each of our towns, rather than having a one-size-fits-all approach.

“So we’re looking at various options. They include the introduction of ANPR in our car parks. We know that with ANPR compliance with charges is over 90 per cent, compared to around 60 per cent when parking is enforced with wardens.”

Council chiefs have also considered building new car parks, including near tourist attractions, as well as overhauling the current pricing strategy, but these are not being taken forward at the moment. Members of the resources overview and scrutiny panel will examine the proposed changes when they meet at 10am on Wednesday.

Cllr Atkins said feedback from the committee would be considered, with a further report due to come to cabinet for a decision at a later date.