The City of Lincoln Council has faced criticism for higher parking fees, a decision construed by detractors as misusing local parking facilities to pay for leisure centre upgrades. The cost increase, spanning from 10p to 30p for each visit, was introduced to finance the renovation expenses incurred at Yarborough and Birchwood leisure centres. Conservative group leader Tom Dyer contended that the council ought to focus on supporting Lincoln’s high streets rather than increasing parking fees. ‘The city council repeatedly resorts to its parking facilities to rectify funding gaps,’ he suggested. Countering this, Labour group’s Councillor Joshua Wells justified the decision by emphasising the importance of the leisure centres for residents’ health and wellbeing.
The leisure centres were suddenly shut in April following the termination of operations by the charity that managed them, Active Nation. Management was resumed in August under Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL), leading to unexpected expenses inclusive of a management fee and potential losses not experienced under Active Nation.
Parking costs went up from the beginning of September and are expected to produce an additional revenue of £1 million by 2030. The fee for one hour of parking went up from £2.30 to £2.40, while a 24-hour stay now costs £10, increased from £9.80. Dyer criticised the Labour-led council for what he views as deploying parking charges to compensate for financial deficiencies caused by the leisure centre contract. In contrast, Wells emphasised the planned upgrades to the Lincoln Central car park, such as new entry and exit points and enhanced payment facilities, as part of a considerable investment aimed at refining the parking experience in the city centre.
This article was originally reported by www.bbc.com and has been adapted by The Lincoln Post.
