Motorists in Worcester could soon be paying more to park, as the city council proposes a series of increases and new charges to help balance its books.
Proposed Hikes and New Charges
Worcester City Council is planning to increase parking charges by five percent across its car parks. This follows several years of smaller increments, with fees having remained frozen for 14 years prior to 2023.
In a more significant change, the authority also wants to introduce parking charges for the first time at two currently free sites: Diglis Playing Fields and Waterworks Road car parks. This would align them with other 'Green Zone' car parks in the city, such as those at Pitchcroft, Tallow Hill, Tybridge Street, and Croft Road.
Driving the Financial Pressures
The proposed changes are part of a package of measures designed to help the council meet significant budget pressures and set a legally required balanced budget for the 2026/27 financial year.
Councillor Karen Lewing, vice-chair of the council's environment committee, explained the rationale. "The city council needs to meet pressures during the next financial year," she said. "Car parking charges are a very significant source of income for the council... Small increases over the last few years have helped us to meet the increasing cost of maintaining our car parks."
She was keen to stress that the council believes its car parks remain "competitively priced and comparable to those in towns and cities of a similar size."
Broader Context and Other Measures
This local proposal comes in stark contrast to a recent decision by Worcestershire County Council, which abandoned plans to introduce charges at Worcester Woods Country Park following a public outcry. However, controversial parking charges at several Birmingham country parks, including Lickey Hills and Sutton Park, remain under consideration.
Alongside the parking changes, Worcester City Council is also planning to introduce a £39 fee for the replacement of standard black bins. A reduced rate of £29 would apply to residents who receive Council Tax Support, and the fee would be waived in circumstances such as vandalism or theft.
The proposals will be debated by the council's place and economic development committee on January 27, followed by the environment committee the next day. The plan for new charges at Diglis and Waterworks Road will subsequently be put out to a public consultation, giving residents a chance to have their say.
