CONSTRUCTION workers, businesses and councillors have raised concerns over Swindon Council’s decision to increase some car parking charges.

From April 3, the council is set to raise the cost of permits, which builders need to park in residents’ parking zones, from £6 to £10 per week.

The council also intends to increase the cost of parking season tickets – often bought by town centre employees and firms – which can be used in long-stay car parks.

Those in the construction trade say the extra cost for builders’ permits will end up being passed on to customers, who might already be paying thousands for building work.

Frank Edwards, a steel fabricator, of Edwards Engineering Swindon Ltd, based in Cricklade Road, said: “Who is going to pay? It’s the customer in the end of the day.

“If you are going to have your house done and it’s going to cost the builder extra, who’s going to pay – you are.

“If you aren’t going to pay directly, you’re going to pay indirectly.”

Toby Robson, of Eastcott, a trainee stonemason and a former building labourer, said the increase was not a lot in comparison to the cost of work, but was still something people would grumble about.

He said: “In fact it’s not the builders that are going to suffer so much.

“If there’s an increase, that will be passed on as part of the cost for the job.

“That might mean a slight increase in the cost for the householder.”

In relation to the changes to season tickets, the annual cost for a Monday to Friday ticket will rise from £1,325 to £1,365, while a Monday to Saturday ticket will go up from £1,560 to £1,610.

Conversely, Wiltshire Council slashed about 20 per cent off its standard season tickets on December 6.

Clair Prosser, policy executive at Swindon Chamber of Commerce, said: “Swindon Chamber is disappointed at the car park price rises, particularly as these will most affect employees parking in the town.

“At a time when budgets are stretched and pay rises are limited, this is yet another blow for local residents.

“Companies looking to recruit the best staff will find these costs a barrier. “ Coun Jim Grant, the Labour group leader, said: “The increases in car parking season tickets is bad for local businesses in the town centre in particular, at a time when the council is trying to attract more businesses to the area.

“Now businesses already in the town centre and those businesses who may have been considering moving to the area will see Swindon increasing its car parking season tickets, while places such as Bath, Bristol and Wiltshire are all reducing theirs.”

A Swindon Council spokesman said that the price of season tickets were increasing by three per cent to keep up with inflation, while the builders’ permit charge was rising to bring it in line with other authorities, who were found to be charging more.