Plymouth parking charges rise confirmed as council says it must ‘maintain income’

Parking charges across Plymouth are set to increase after councillors approved a series of changes during a cabinet meeting on Monday (9 March) afternoon.

Members of Plymouth City Council backed proposals as part of the authority’s annual review of parking services, which the council says is needed to help meet rising operational costs and maintain income used to run services.

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Council officers said the option of not increasing charges had been considered but rejected as it would not “achieve cost recovery and maintain levels of income critical to the delivery of key services.”

The decision means changes to both on-street and off-street parking, alongside several updates to how parking is managed across the city.

Parking charges increase agreed

Under the plans, parking charges will apply to all motor vehicles using council car parks, including motorcycles, ensuring what the council described as a more consistent approach across chargeable parking bays.

The council also approved the removal of cash payments for on-street parking once new payment systems are installed. 

Drivers will instead be required to pay using debit or credit cards, contactless payments, mobile wallets and the RingGo parking app.

Council officers say the change will improve customer experience by offering more payment options, while also helping reduce carbon emissions associated with collecting and processing cash.

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The cabinet also agreed to increase on-street pay-and-display charges across the city.

In Zone 1 areas, including Cornwall Street and New George Street, the hourly rate is expected to rise from £2.40 to £2.80, while the cost of 30 minutes would increase from £1.20 to £1.40.

Charges in council-run car parks will also rise under the decision, alongside increases to parking permit fees.

According to the council, the changes are intended to ensure charges remain comparable with other local authorities while helping meet the rising costs of operating and maintaining parking services.

Further consultations planned

Two additional proposals will now go out to statutory consultation.

These include plans to introduce parking charges at several coastal locations, including Jennycliff, Mount Batten and Strand Street. Under the proposal, the first hour would remain free, with a £2 charge for longer stays.

The council will also consult on introducing charges for Blue Badge holders parking along the Hoe Promenade.

Concerns raised by local residents

The Moorlander’s previous report on proposals prompted a range of reactions from residents on social media, with some expressing concern about the potential impact on the city centre and coastal areas.

Some residents said higher parking charges could discourage people from visiting Plymouth’s city centre, which has already seen a number of shop closures in recent years.

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Others raised concerns about the possibility of charges being introduced at coastal locations such as Jennycliff and Mount Batten, with some saying regular visitors who walk dogs or exercise in the area could face new costs.

A petition has also been launched calling for three hours of free parking at the Jennycliff car park. 

The online petition, which started yesterday (Monday 9 March), argues the current one-hour free period is not long enough for visitors to enjoy the beach, coastal walks or nearby businesses such as the Jennycliff Café.

ABOVE: The online petition launched for Jennycliff Car Park

There were also concerns from residents about the wider cost of living and the impact that further increases in parking charges could have on motorists.

Plymouth City Council response

The Moorlander approached Plymouth City Council for comment on the proposals, noting residents’ concerns and requesting further information on next steps.

A spokesperson for Plymouth City Council told The Moorlander the cabinet had approved the proposals set out in the report, with one amendment.

They confirmed councillors did not approve the proposed escalating parking permit charges outlined in section 5.9 of the report.

Instead, the decision was amended so that parking permit fees will increase as outlined in section 5.8 and Appendix F, without the escalating charges.

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The council also confirmed the decision is currently subject to a call-in period running until 4.30pm on 16 March, during which councillors can request that the decision be reviewed.

If no call-in is made, the authority expects to publish a formal Notice of Variation around 17 March, which would allow most of the new parking charges to come into effect from 13 April.

However, two elements of the plans will not be introduced immediately.

Proposals to introduce charges at coastal car parks including Jennycliff, Mount Batten and Strand Street, as well as potential charges for Blue Badge holders on Hoe Promenade, will instead be subject to 21 days of statutory consultation.

Because of the upcoming local elections and the pre-election period, the council said a final decision on those specific proposals is not expected until after May.

A spokesperson for Plymouth City Council also told The Moorlander upgrades to the city’s on-street parking payment systems are expected to be completed by the end of the summer.

They added that the change will provide drivers with more payment options while reducing the cost and carbon footprint associated with collecting and processing cash.

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According to the council, only three per cent of parking payments were made using cash during the 2024/25 financial year, while more than 84 per cent were made using the RingGo app.

John Stephens, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Transport, said the authority was facing financial pressures.

“Like most other local authorities, we are facing significant financial challenges due to rising costs and demand and that means having to keep all our charges under review,” he said.