Colchester's St John's Car Park ticket price rises for long stays

Recent changes to Colchester Council’s car park prices included switching St John’s car park, in Southway, to a short-stay option for visitors.

Where once those who work in the city centre could pay £4 for a day’s parking at St John’s, the changes mean a stay of up to 12 hours would set them back £12.

The authority argues the changes, which include a cheaper £3 option for stays of up to four hours, will encourage shoppers to use the car park.

Price changes have also seen the council’s Britannia car park, in Britannia Way, switched to a long-stay option to offset the changes to St John’s.

A new day rate of £4 is on offer, available only through the MiPermit app.

But James Channon, who runs Sir Isaac’s Artisan Coffee, in Sir Isaac's Walk, said the change is “unhelpful” for workers in parking in the city, as the Britannia day rate ends at 6pm.

James Channon (left) owns Sir Isaac's Artisan Coffee (Image: Newsquest)

He added: “I’m in a group with other businesses who are angry at the price rise.

“For me, the footfall in the mornings from the town centre workers coming up the stairs from St John’s car park will affect us massively.

“It’s a really well-used car park by both shoppers and town centre workers. It now means many of my customers will re-navigate to different car parks and routes into work due to the price increase.”

Other options remain for long-stay visitors to the city centre, including a £3 day rate at Butt Road car park and Napier Road car park.

READ MORE: Parking firm 'to be prosecuted' after not removing unauthorised signs in Colchester

The price of up to 12 hours of parking at Priory Street and St Mary’s car parks has risen from £8.10 to £12.

A MiPermit offer of up to four hours of parking for £3 is available at both St Mary’s and Priory Street.

One worker who travels into Colchester city centre from Fingringhoe daily said the move means “another car park is now unusable for people who work here”.

He said: “The council are punishing workers in the city centre by upping St John’s car park to £12 all day - triple the price.

“How can they expect people to pay these sorts of prices.

“I live in Fingringhoe and I can’t get the bus in early enough to start work on time, let alone get home.

“There are other car parks like Butt Road and Sheepen Road, but god knows how quickly they fill up.

“If they’re full, I have no choice but to pay more and I just think it is alienating the city centre even more.

“What use is the Park and Ride when I live the complete other side of town?

“They’ve cut the buses back in Rowhedge – which are more regular than Fingringhoe – and even so I’d have to drive there, park and then get a bus.”

READ MORE: Historic former bus depot is demolished as work begins on £4.7 million scheme

A report which went before the council's cabinet in November last year said the authority could expect an income of £3.4 million from its car parks over the coming year.

'Our new charging structure is simpler and ensures costs are covered'

A Colchester Council spokesman said: “Our parking strategy aims to get the balance right between providing convenient and value-for-money parking for visitors, whilst managing demand at peak times and reducing the environmental impact of traffic.

“Parking fees and charges play an important role in influencing driver behaviour and can have a positive impact on air quality and congestion, supporting the council’s climate emergency declaration, Parking Strategy and Transport Policy.

“The new charging structure for 2023 is much simpler and aligns fees across our car parks and ensures the costs of managing and maintaining our car parks is covered, as we experience rising costs.

“Colchester City Council’s 2023 parking tariffs offer excellent value, when benchmarked with other city and town centre locations in the region, and were agreed at its cabinet meeting in November 2022.

"After which, the statutory requirements for advertising the tariff changes were fulfilled and included both Notices of Variation and on-site advance notices being displayed in the affected car parks and an advertisement in the local newspaper.

“To support and implement the council’s Positive Parking Strategy, Britannia has now changed from a short to a long-stay car park, and St John’s from a long- to a short-stay car park.

"The hours during which tariffs and offers apply are determined by the opening hours of each site.

"The parking tariff changes in West Mersea were requested by West Mersea Town Council and aim to provide consistent pricing for all car parks across the island and are in keeping with other tourist destinations in the region.

“Tariffs have not risen in all council-owned car parks and not all tariffs have changed in the car parks that are affected.

“We would encourage motorists to visit our website at colchester.gov.uk/parking and review the tariffs and offers that best suit their parking stay needs and highlight that our best value parking offers are available using the MiPermit app.”

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