Fees at Kent’s priciest public car parks are set to increase again in a move branded “diabolical” and “greedy” by residents.
The most expensive sites in Canterbury and Whitstable are proposed to rise by 10p an hour, despite fears it will have a “huge knock-on effect” on small businesses.
Band One car parks in Canterbury, where prices could increase from next year
However, Canterbury City Council bosses say the higher charges at its car parks are a “big part of why we are in a healthier financial situation than most councils”.
The local authority is set to collect a whopping £12 million in revenue from parking over the next financial year.
Nine car parks in Canterbury and Whitstable currently charge £3.70 per hour, making them the most expensive in the county. The city council is now proposing to hike those fees by 10p, up to £3.80.
Residents and traders KentOnline spoke to this week said they were “horrified” by the plans and accused council chiefs of being “out of touch”.
But the authority’s cabinet member for transport, Cllr Alex Ricketts (Lib Dem), told KentOnline: “I won’t apologise for the contribution of parking to our budget.
Cllr Alex Ricketts, cabinet member for transport on Canterbury City Council
“It is a big part of why we are in a healthier financial situation than most councils.”
In April 2024, the authority’s Labour-Liberal Democrat coalition administration overhauled the system of car parking prices across Canterbury, Whitstable and Herne Bay.
Fees across seven ‘Band One’ sites in Canterbury and Whitstable – the district’s premium car parks – rose to £3.70 an hour, which was an increase of £2.10 for two sites in the coastal town.
Cllr Ricketts stressed that the banding system has helped turn two under-used multi-storey sites at Station Road West and Castle Street in Canterbury “from pigeon hotels to well-used and well-occupied car parks”.
While fewer people are using car parks in the coastal towns, Canterbury City Council’s income is increasing
CCC had planned to increase Band One sites to £3.80 an hour for the 2025/26 financial year before backtracking.
Papers released last week showing the council’s proposed budget for 2026/27 reveal the 10p price hike is back on the cards.
The documents say the increase will make the authority an extra £102,000, which will be used “to cover increased operating costs and to increase income to help fund essential council services”.
Across Canterbury in the 2024/25 financial year, the number of ‘parking acts’ went up by 0.7%, while the council’s income from parking in the city increased by 13%, the report says.
However, over the same period in Herne Bay, the number of parking acts fell by 9%, while the council collected 24% more in fees.
Whitstable resident Janine Chilley described the proposed hike as “diabolical”
In Whitstable, the amount of parking fell by 3%, while income rose by 14%.
The council report says: “It should be noted that coastal parking is particularly weather dependent and according to the Met Office the summer in 2024 was the coolest since 2015.”
This week, KentOnline asked tourists, traders and residents in Whitstable for their views.
Janine Chilley said: “We’re finding the car parking [fees] are astronomical and the footfall has dropped considerably, because if it’s going to cost people £10 to go out for a day before they’ve even shopped, they’re not going to come in.
“I think it’s diabolical and I can’t see what we’re getting for that. It’s greed on behalf of the council.
Carole Ridley, who runs her own dress shop in Harbour Street, Whitstable, described the cost of parking as “outrageous”
“I do think it will have a huge knock-on effect.
“Canterbury City Council – stop it. Start thinking of other people and not your own pockets.”
Carole Ridley, who runs a dress shop under her own name in Harbour Street, said she was “absolutely horrified” to hear of the increase.
“The public can’t afford food, let alone the parking – the parking is outrageous,” she said.
“They are so out of touch.”
James Roddick from Oxford said the parking fees are a “hidden charge” that tourists have little choice in
She added: “For once it would be nice if the council actually listened. We’re small businesses and they need us because once we’re gone, we’re gone. There isn’t another generation that wants a small shop.
“This is their bread and butter. Why are they ruining it?”
Tourists were also aggrieved.
James Roddick, from Oxford, said: “When you consider the convenience of Amazon and other online stores, paying £3.70, or £7.40, as I just have, is quite a lot of money when you’re going out to buy stuff as well.”
Also in Gorrell Tank car park was Calvin, visiting from Medway. He said: “Will it put me off coming here? Possibly.
Calvin from Medway said the increased prices could deter him from visiting Whitstable in the future
“I think it will probably make people try to park in local areas a bit more, which will be annoying for residents.
“I can’t help but think it probably does drive people away from the high street a little bit – especially if you’re just coming to get normal shopping.”
The city council points out that prices for more than 5,000 – or almost 80% – of the council’s car park spaces are set to be frozen, including at Park and Ride sites.
Charges are not changing in the council’s Band Two or Three locations, where fees are £2.70 and £1.90 per hour, respectively.
The authority is also proposing moving the Reculver Country Park car park from Band Two to Band Three to encourage longer stays.
The car parks in Whitstable where prices are set to increase
It says the 10p increase at Band One car parks is, at 2.7%, below inflation. A 4% across-the-board increase in the cost of parking permits is also proposed.
The council’s director of place, Bill Hicks, said: “As the figures show, residents are switching to Park and Ride and our Band Three car parks, which are a little further away from the city and town centres.
“Whatever way you cut it, parking charges are always controversial, so we want as many people as possible to have their say on our plans.”
Comparing data from April 2024 to March 2025 with the previous year shows an increase in drivers using Band Three car parks in Canterbury and the city’s Park and Ride service, although the Sturry Road site was shut the year before.
There has also been a drop at some Band One sites, including Pound Lane at minus 13% and Whitefriars at minus 15%.
Watling Street car park in Canterbury is among those in Band One, where hourly rates could rise from £3.70 to £3.80
At the meeting of CCC’s cabinet on November 3, the council’s leadership is set to approve launching a public consultation on the changes to its Off Street Parking Order, which includes the price hikes.
Cabinet will then make the final recommendation on the changes, informed by feedback from the consultation, in February 2026 – with full council voting on it thereafter.
The Band One car parks where prices are set to rise in Canterbury are: North Lane, Pound Lane, Castle Row, Watling Street, Whitefriars and Queningate.
In Whitstable, they are: Harbour, Gorrell Tank and Keams Yard.
While the Canterbury district has the most expensive council parking in Kent, in Brighton hourly rates are as high as £5.90 in some central areas.