FREE parking permits are being offered to owners of fully electric vehicles in all Warwick District Council car parks as part of a eco-friendly trial this spring.
The green scheme follows the council declaring a ‘climate emergency’ last summer and is part of the authority’s new car parking fees structure which will also see charges frozen at designated ‘Park & Stride’ car parks in Leamington’s Old Town and those next to Warwick Racecourse.
These include Court Street, Packington Place and Bath Street in Leamington, and the newly named Hampton Road, Bread & Meat Close and Vittel Drive car parks – formerly St Mary’s Lands Areas 2,3,4 – in Warwick.
At these locations the cost of parking will start from £1 per day, with lower rates for season ticket holders.
District neighbourhood services spokesman Coun David Norris said: “In June 2019 our council declared a ‘climate emergency’ in response to the need for significant and urgent action to reduce carbon emissions.
“The changes to our parking charges align the tariffs across our three towns and reflect our commitment to improving air quality, supporting town centre businesses and encouraging increased ownership of electric vehicles.”
But there will be hikes in charges for drivers at other car parks in the district.
From January 31 the cost of parking for more than four hours in the town centre long-stay car parks in Leamington, Warwick and Kenilworth which are operated by the council will rise by 50p. There will also be an increase of 50p for parking overnight (between 6pm and 8am) in the town centres. Charges for stays of under four hours will remain the same.
Full details for applying for the green parking permits for electric vehicles will be released by the council in the next few weeks.
