Council pegs parking charges for borough residents - Advantage Card is key to discounts

There will be no change to parking charges for Royal Borough residents in the year ahead, even with January's 2.5% increase in VAT - and the message to local people is: If you haven't got your Advantage Card* already, get one now!

The good news comes after cabinet, meeting last Thursday (25 November), agreed the 2011 fees and charges for council services.

Cllr Richard Kellaway, lead member for finance, said: "Sticking to our principle of putting residents first, there will be absolutely no increase in parking charges for local people who have a yellow Advantage Card.

"In the current economic climate it is important to keep car parking charges at a very competitive level to encourage people to shop in the borough. We believe this will be warmly welcomed by businesses and traders who are facing tough times and need our support and of course by residents who will continue to benefit from discounted - and sometimes free - parking in the year ahead."

Advantage card parking covers most council car parks for up to three hours and pay-and-display on-street parking for up to the maximum stay allowed (these vary from street to street).

Advantage Cards are available to residents free from the Town Hall, Maidenhead; York House, Windsor, and from Windsor, Charters, Cox Green and the Magnet leisure centres on proof of address in the borough (council tax bill or similar).

Cllr Kellaway also revealed that increases in other fees and charges reflected the council's commitment to keeping prices as competitive as possible.

He explained: "The borough uses the September Retail Price Index as its benchmark and this year it was running at 4.5%.

"However, even with the VAT increase, we have managed to keep increases down to an average of 3% so local people benefit from a lower than inflation price rise. This, along with our commitment to low council tax, gives borough residents a good deal in these difficult economic times."

The full range of fees and charges is available at www.rbwm.gov.uk/public/meetings_101125_cab_fees_appendices1.pdf. Parking information available at www.rbwm.gov.uk/web/parking_index.htm

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