• Swindon & Wiltshire Economy
• Wednesday August 26 2026

Wiltshire parking charges rise from next week

Parking in Wiltshire is set to become more expensive from Tuesday, 1 September, with council-run pay-and-display charges increasing by an average of 20 per cent.

The increase will be rounded to the nearest 10p and marks the first change in parking tariffs since 2022.

Wiltshire Council says prices have been frozen while inflation has risen by around 28 per cent, leaving it facing higher costs to operate the service.

Season-ticket and permit prices will also rise in line with the new tariffs, although the council says they will remain significantly cheaper than paying daily rates. Exact charges will vary between locations and the type of car park.

The biggest operational change will affect short-stay car parks, where charging hours on weekdays will be extended to run from 7am to 7pm. That adds an hour at the start and end of the current charging period.

Sunday tariffs will also be aligned with weekday rates in short-stay car parks. However, Sunday charging will continue to start at 10am, rather than the proposed 7am start, following feedback from residents, businesses and community groups.

Long-stay car parks will largely escape the changes to operating hours. They will retain their existing 8am to 6pm charging period, apart from Dunns Lane car park in Castle Combe, where charges will run from 7am to 7pm.

The all-day ticket there will increase from £5.60 to £6.60. The Maltings car park in Salisbury will also retain its existing charging hours.

Weekend charges will be introduced at selected council-owned car parks, including County Hall in Trowbridge and the Bridge Centre in Chippenham, bringing a new cost for some Saturday and Sunday users.

Several previously proposed measures have been dropped. Sunday on-street parking charges will not be introduced in Salisbury, while Sunday charges will not be added at Cross Hayes in Malmesbury or Marlborough High Street. These locations are treated as on-street parking areas.

The changes follow a consultation that attracted 1,762 responses. The council says the revised approach is intended to support town-centre turnover, manage demand and help fund transport and highways services, including the rural bus network.

Critics, however, fear higher prices and longer charging hours could discourage shoppers and put further pressure on high-street businesses.