Labour Council hikes Tilehurst car park charges after rejecting free parking petition

Reading's Labour-run Council is set to increase parking charges at Recreation Road and Dunstall Close car parks in Tilehurst, and has rejected a call to reinstate free 30-minute parking there to support local traders.

During discussion of Reading’s new off-street parking charges at the Council’s Policy Committee, Lib Dem Group Leader Anne Thompson was the only councillor to oppose the changes. She called on the Council to reintroduce free 30-minute parking at Dunstall Close and Recreation Road car parks to increase footfall at what is a challenging time for many businesses in Tilehurst village. 

“Just that free half hour is such a useful service. There’s a free two hours at Kensington Road, which is great. We’re just asking for a free half-hour at Dunstall Close and at Recreation Road,” Cllr Thompson told the committee.

Two years ago, when the Council cancelled the free 30-minute parking without consultation, Lib Dems joined residents and traders in campaigning for its restoration. The Council rejected that campaign.

Under the new proposals, which were agreed by the Council's Policy Committee this week despite the Lib Dem opposition, charges at both Tilehurst car parks will rise from August, including:

• The one-hour tariff is rising by 10%, from £1.00 to £1.10
• The two-hour tariff is rising from £1.50 to £1.60
• The all-day (24-hour) tariff is rising from £10.00 to £10.50
• Annual season tickets are rising by £29, from £578 to £607

Charges will rise at other Council car parks across Reading too, except for Green Park, where tariffs are to be reduced to “address under-utilisation”. 

The Council's own figures show its car parks generated a surplus of more than £2.1 million in 2024/25. Under Section 55 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, any such surplus must be reinvested in transport and highway-related improvements.

Cllr Meri O’Connell, Liberal Democrat Councillor for Tilehurst, said:

“Residents and traders in Tilehurst asked this Council for a small, practical change that would have helped our local shops – free 30-minute parking at Recreation Road and Dunstall Close. Labour said no. Months later, my colleague Cllr Thompson has repeated this request and received another refusal. 

“Now the Council are putting the prices up again, when car parks already make this Council millions of pounds in surplus every year. That surplus is supposed to be reinvested in transport and highways – residents deserve to know exactly what Tilehurst has seen for that money.

“This isn't about parking being free everywhere. It's about a Council that won't listen to residents and traders, and keeps reaching for the same car parks to raise more money, while our local shops struggle.”