Kenilworth residents have hit back at new car parking charges which are "damaging to town centre trade".

Price hikes were introduced by Warwick District Council on Monday, December 3, in Abbey Fields, Abbey End and Square West car parks.

The new charges have seen the 30 minute fee and lower Sunday charges scrapped across the district.

Following the announcement residents have taken to social media to criticise the council's decision.

In particular comments have focused on the impact this could have on independent businesses.

One resident labelled the announcement as "damaging to town centre trade; both the price hikes and the cashless payment scheme. Well done, WDC."

"I understand WDC needs to generate money but surely it's about time we supported our local small retailers with free parking for their customers and charged the larger out of town shops instead," said another.

Comments have also questioned whether the council is trying to encourage active travel by making it more expensive to park a car in town.

But this again has sparked a backlash.

One resident said: "At a time of increasing economic uncertainty, exponentially rising energy prices and other large increases in the cost of living like fuel let's hammer Joe Public.

"I shop less and less in town because of the parking charges.

"If you want to help reduce the impact on the environment why not try some positive action like reducing charges for more environmentally friendly cars (and NHS workers), planting more trees, reducing the consumption of meat, more cycle routes."

WDC's cabinet approved price surges across a range of services at the beginning of November as it looked to increase income generated by up to 15 per cent.

This included not just parking fees but also the cost of hiring council community spaces.

The full cabinet then approved the plans on November 17.

Kenilworth Nub News has contacted WDC for comment, asking why the price hikes have gone ahead.

But residents have already criticised an apparent lack of transparency on the decision.

One resident said: "There is no justification for increasing these prices and the cost of providing the services has not increased.

"Using stealth under the guise of an environmental initiative as a way of raising capital is wrong.

"No excuses for WDC who, are too often the enemy of the people they are supposed to serve."

(Header image by Robin Stott via geograph.org.uk)

More Kenilworth news stories:

- What's on in Kenilworth this weekend

- Kenilworth hotel sold for nearly £5m