Car park charges to be introduced in Nuneaton & Bedworth

[dutchman]

Car park charges will be introduced at Nuneaton and Bedworth's main leisure centres.


The Pingles

The decision to make people pay to use the car parks at the Pingles Leisure Centre in Nuneaton and the Bedworth Leisure Centre was made by the borough council's cabinet as part of desperate cash saving measures.

But the first three hours will be free, meaning many leisure centre users will not have to fork-out funds to pay to park.

It is those who take advantage of them, by using them as a free place to park their cars with no intention of using the leisure centres or their facilities, who will be hit in the pocket.

Concerns were initially raised by councillor Keith Kondakor, who told the cabinet he feared charging to use the car parks would have a severe impact on the leisure centres, and will put people off from using them.

He appealed for the proposed charges to be shelves:"I think making people pay to park at the leisure centres will have an adverse effect, particularly on gym memberships," Cllr Kondakor said.

But Town Hall leader, councillor Dennis Harvey stressed that genuine leisure centre users will not be affected by the introduction of charges.

"The first three hours will be free so most users will still use the car park for free," he said.

"These charges will help avoid the people who clog up the leisure centre car parks to the detriment of leisure centre users, particularly in Bedworth."

It is hoped that, through the introduction of the new car parking charges, the council will reap in £70,000, which will make a small dent in the £1.7m savings it has to make in its budget.

Charging to use leisure centre car parks is just one way in which the council is looking to either find or save the huge amount of cash needed.

Motorists may also soon have to pay to use the current non pay and display car parks in the borough as a review will be undertaken which could see charges introduced in those car parks too.