Residents fight back against brutal parking charges coming in next year which will impose £75 fees

Under the proposed scheme, residents would be charged £75 for their first parking permit and £125 for a second permit, with a maximum of two permits allowed per household.

Business permits would cost £300, while a visitor permit system would allow households to purchase up to 720 hours of visitor parking annually.

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However, in response to the parking measures, residents launched apetition earlier this week over growing concerns about the new restrictions, including the rollout of yellow linesin residential areas.

The campaign has quickly gained momentum on Change.org, where more than 200 residents have voiced their opposition to the additional financial burden.

The council argued the scheme will help address parking and congestion issues, as well as improve access for emergency services and refuse vehicles.

The proposed CPZ scheme will affect three distinct zones in Colnbrook, known as CP1, CP2, and CP3. Zone CP1 encompasses Brands Road, Crown Close, Crown Meadow, Hillrise, Laburnum Grove, Layburn Crescent, Merlin Close and Pepys Close.

Zone CP2 covers Albany Park, Bridge Street, Cottesbrooke Close, High St Colnbrook, Hunstanton Close, Mill Street Colnbrook, Park Street Colnbrook, Rudsworth Close, St Thomas Walk and Vicarage Way, while Zone CP3 includes Brookside, Drift Way, Horton Road Colnbrook, Moreland Avenue, Moreland Close, Popes Close, Rayners Close and Willow Close.

The petition, launched by Louise Welland, strongly criticises the proposed charges, stating: "We believe that the proposed fees and the introduction of yellow lines will unfairly penalise those who live here, particularly those without off-street parking, making it even harder for us to park outside our own homes.

"Our community should not be forced to pay extra for parking that we need," the petition states, calling for a solution that targets only non-residents.”

The campaigners are urging the council to work with residents to find what they term "a reasonable and equitable solution" to address parking issues without imposing extra costs on local residents.

If approved, the new parking measures are scheduled to be implemented by March 2025. Residents within any CPZ will need to create an online account to submit evidence for permits and manage their parking arrangements.

The Colnbrook scheme is part of a wider rollout, with several other areas of Slough already in the final stages of implementing similar parking controls.

In response to the petition, one person claimed: "I live in Vicarage Way [and] don't have off-street parking. I pay enough in council tax and car tax. Residents should get the permit for free not our fault Slough Council is bankrupt."

Someone else stated that the parking charges are "a joke". They added: "For all residents, parking should be free. We must be able to block our driveway for free. It's our driveway at the end of the day. We already pay increased council tax and now this. It's not ok at all!"

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Councillor Paul Kelly did note that the aim of the new parking measures is to reduce the amount of "inconsiderate and displaced parking" which affects many residents daily.

“By consulting with residents, businesses and stakeholders we can design a scheme which addresses the problems of parking congestion and safety, while improving accessibility for emergency services and refuse vehicles,” he stated.