Kingston businesses have raised concerns about disparity in parking charges between different streets after some as much as tripled across the borough in April.
Official council notices confirm hourly on-street parking rates in zones such as Canbury Avenue, Alexandra Road and Kings Road jumped from £1.10 to £3.30, while in nearby Central Kingston, rates were raised from £1.40 to £3.00 per hour.
This rise is compounded by a compulsory 10 pence fee added by the RingGo payment app, which Kingston council exclusively uses for parking, which means the real cost for an hour of on-street parking in Canbury is now £3.40 – an increase of more than 200%.
Rebecca Horner, a pilates teacher based in Kingston with many elderly clients, said: “We couldn’t believe the increase in parking recently.
“Not only have they almost tripled the cost but you can no longer pay for 1.5 hours, it’s an hourly increase. So, we’re now paying almost £7 to park to do a one-hour pilates class.
“Many have said that they can’t afford it. Not only does it impact their pocket, but for some it’s a chance to exercise safety and socialise.”
It is a similar story for Wych Elm Pub owner-operators Charlotte Salaman and Michael Pearson.
Salman said: “It’s impacting our business. Trade has dropped off during the day.
“We attract many retired customers who enjoy the food and service we provide. I believe around 50% of them have mobility issues which makes charging them these high prices wholly unfair.
“We are seen as an attractive local amenity, public houses in general have a hugely important position in communities as a place where people can feel comfortable and safe, often people come on their own and we may be the only other people they have interaction with during their day.
“The parking charge increase discriminates and penalises those people who are not so mobile, and it penalises trades people and professionals who need their cars for business.”
In particular, Salaman feels her pub has been unfairly hit by inconsistencies in pricing structures across the borough, with parking on the quiet backstreet where the pub is located now costing almost as much as central Kingston, compared to other areas which were not increased as much.
The Wych Elm Pub saw on-street parking charges increased to £3.40 from £1.10, a more than 200% hike, compared to just a 114% increase on the usually-busier Maple Road, to £3.00 from £1.40.
Meanwhile, Park Brew & Kitchen operator Frankie Kearns said: “We need every customer who walks through our door and, actually, they need us too.
“Our cafe is a warm, welcoming space with friendly staff. It’s more than just a business; it’s a community hub. For some, especially those who are elderly or isolated, visiting us is a chance to feel connected, seen, and included.
“A 200% increase is 190% too far, in my opinion. It’s not just excessive, it’s punishing.
“These changes aren’t about managing traffic, they’re about revenue at the cost of our community – small businesses and their customers.”
Tanya van Dalen added: “I run a charity in Kingston, on Surbiton Road, giving away baby equipment free of charge.
“We rely on donations of used good quality baby and toddler clothes, toys and equipment.
“The rise in parking prices has an impact on us as we don’t have our own parking so people donating equipment have to pay so much more to park. There is no other parking close to us.”
The off-street picture, while less dramatic, still shows notable increases.
Charges at Canbury Place car park rose from £2.50 to £2.70 per hour, Ashdown Road car park went from £3.10 to £3.30 per hour, and the Guildhall car park increased from £2.60 to £2.70.
These car parks are cheaper than street parking but are far less convenient for local traders, visitors, and elderly residents, the community said – especially for those with mobility issues.
Kingston resident Al Smith said: “I’ve lived here for over 25 years now and I am starting to fall out of love with Kingston, and the parking charges are not helping.
“I really don’t mind paying, but the prices now will definitely make me spend less time in Kingston so hence spend less money.
“I do walk and I also take the bus, but if you have heavy things to take in or bring back it’s not possible on the bus, unless I want to break my neck holding two bags and stand on a moving crammed bus.”
As well as the increase in cost, residents claim the RingGo app is now only available in one-hour increments, rather than the prior 30-minute segments that had been available.
In addition to pay-as-you-go charges, permit holders have also seen costs rise.
Single-zone residential permits went from £120 to £123.10 annually, while one-month options increased from £30 to £30.80.
Business permits have jumped significantly, with first permits rising from £400 to £410.40 and additional permits exceeding £660.
The borough also withdrew the fully-electric vehicle resident permits which had previously been offered for free, citing concerns over wear and tear caused by heavier vehicles.
Residents and business owners intend to submit a petition to Kingston Council, urging councillors to reconsider the scale and impact of the borough’s price increases.
Launched by local tutor Gia BorgDarcy, it has received more than 1,200 signatures to date, and will run until 21 June.
A Kingston Council spokespersn said: “The council routinely reviews its fees and charges to ensure they remain appropriate and support our wider policy objectives.
“Whilst we acknowledge that hourly rates have risen across the borough, we have benchmarked them against similar locations in neighbouring boroughs and are content that they are in line with rates being charged elsewhere.
“The increases in charges will contribute to the rising costs of maintenance, administration and enforcement but, even with the increases that we have implemented, we predict that the council will still have to contribute nearly £8million to these costs in 2025/26.”
Concessionary fares such as the Freedom Pass, which is paid directly to Transport for London and provides discounts to Londoners aged 66 or over with eligible disabilities, has cost Kingston Council nearly £5million alone this year.
The amount is expected closer to £6million in 2025 and 2026.
The council spokesperson said: “Availability of car parking supports access to local leisure, retail and public services in the borough’s neighbourhoods.
“Shorter stay parking is encouraged in shopping areas so that businesses in the borough benefit from a turnover of customers during the day including the retention of the 30 minutes free parking option in many areas to support convenience businesses on which our residents rely.
“The use of funds generated through on-street car parking charges are tightly controlled. The council can only put them towards the costs of operating the parking service and a limited number of other areas such as highways maintenance, environmental projects and concessionary fares like the Freedom Pass.”
Feature image: Kelly on Pexels
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