Maidenhead & Windsor

Windsor and Maidenhead Advantage card holders using Maidenhead’s two largest car parks look set to enjoy new benefits of discounted tariffs under proposals up for discussion this week.

This bonus for local Windsor and Maidenhead residents means that cardholders will still pay exactly the same for their parking in both Nicholsons/Broadway and Hines Meadow car parks if the new discounted tariffs being considered by Cabinet on Thursday are approved.

The proposals mean that a new discounted rate will be introduced at the two car parks for the up to one, two and three-hour periods.

They also mean that Windsor and Maidenhead Advantage Card holders will continue to enjoy discounted rates at Alma Road, Victoria Street, Riverside and Alexandra Gardens car parks in Windsor as well as at Grove Road, West Street and the Town Hall car parks in Maidenhead.

The proposals form part of the council’s biennial review of parking charges and have undergone extensive deliberation to ensure overall increases remain in line with inflation.

Cllr David Burbage, leader of Windsor and Maidenhead council, said: “This is great news for Advantage Card holders who will now be able to use more of the borough’s car parks to get their discounts. We have listened to our residents and the Chamber of Commerce and have worked hard to deliver a sustainable solution to parking in the borough. We will be looking again at the issue of pay and display parking when these changes have had the opportunity to bed down.

“We are determined to encourage our residents to continue using their local towns for shopping and provide a realistic approach which will enable us to compete favourably with other local shopping centres.”

Cllr Colin Rayner, lead member for Windsor and Maidenhead highways, transport and the environment, said this week: “In the last two years the council has made improvements to the car parks and our operating costs continue to rise above the rate of inflation. We have been left with no choice but to increase some of the car parking charges due to budgetry pressures.

“While it is an unavoidable reality that some charges will have to rise, I am pleased that we have been able to contain our increases to within the rate of inflation. If you have not used your Advantage Card up to now this may be the time to get one to save money on parking fees. If you are entitled to use an Advantage Card your parking could be cheaper.”

If cabinet gives the revised scale of charges the go-ahead, the new fees will be introduced by the middle of February, meaning Christmas shopping and the New Year sales will not be affected.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead