MONEY from car parks in Salisbury makes up 51 per cent of the total parking income raised across the county, according to the latest figures on the Wiltshire Council website.

All the car parks from across the city combined made a profit of over £1million in 2013 and even if the loss-making park and rides are taken into account the profit of £561,000 is still the highest of any town or city in Wiltshire.

The council’s long-standing policy is that money made by car parks goes towards subsidising lossmaking bus routes. Yet car parks in Trowbridge, Warminster and Melksham all run at a loss, meaning that they are effectively subsidised by the tax payer.

In particular, the free St Stephen’s car park in Trowbridge costs the council nearly £200,000 a year to run.

The council has also previously stated that profit made by Salisbury car parks goes towards subsidising the lossmaking park and ride.

However, at current growth rates the park and ride could break even within the next three years.

Despite this the council plans to increase the cost of long-stay parking in the city and keep the cost of shortstay parking largely the same – much to the frustration of business owners and residents.

Cllr Richard Clewer, who is the only Salisbury councillor in the administration, believes that the combination of tourism and congestion mean that the city has a unique car parking situation.

He said: “We have 27 per cent of residents in the city who do not own a car and we are currently building more houses that do not have parking spaces.

“It would be morally wrong if we were not subsiding bus services for those people and the older residents that live in the surrounding villages.

“The park and ride is the key for parking in the city and with The Maltings due to close it will be one of the only places for long term parking.

“We could look at mothballing one of the car parks in the short term and I know it is something that is being explored.”

At the city council meeting on Monday Cllr Mark Timbrell expressed his disappointment that the city council had not been consulted about the proposed charges.

He said: “Fifty per cent of the revenue raised by parking comes from Salisbury. Do we make up 50 per cent of the population of Wiltshire? No.

“Is 50 per cent of the money raised spent in Salisbury? No. So someone needs to explain how on earth this is fair. I ask today, how loud do we need to shout before we are heard? How many times must the same words be said? How many shops must close? This experiment of a unitary authority is failing in its democratic duty to carry out the will of the people.

“It is failing Salisbury.”