The Vale council-run car park at the Beacon civic hall in Wantage. Picture: Google Maps DAILY parking rates would need to go up by ten per cent every year until 2023 to tackle an annual £300,000 council shortfall. Following a public consultation carried out in November last year, Vale of White Horse District Council’s Cabinet have approved several changes to parking arrangements in the area. Car parks, in Abingdon, Faringdon and Wantage collectively cost more than £700,000 a year to run, leaving the local authority with a major shortfall. Under the new changes, drivers will be forced to pay more every time they use car parks governed by the council for the next three years.
At their meeting earlier in February, the Cabinet also approved measures aimed at reducing vehicle emissions. In Abingdon, lorries will no longer be able to park in Rye Farm car park and specific spaces will be allocated for a coach and campervans in Hales Meadow car park. This ‘popular’ move to free up more spaces in Rye Farm for smaller vehicles should encourage people visiting from the A415 to park on edge of Abingdon rather than joining the traffic in the town centre, helping to reduce congestion and improve air quality. The Vale is also currently working with Oxfordshire County Council to introduce electric vehicle charging bays in some district council car parks.
Oxford s 30-minute walks to enjoy without breaking lockdown rules With the nation in the midst of a third lockdown getting out for our daily exercise has become more important than ever. Whether it s a new priority to get out and move your body, be it because of working from home and being sat down all day or escaping the house for a moment alone, away from home schooling - exercise has become our solace. The benefits of being active far exceed just the physical changes your body may see. The emotional benefits of getting outside in the fresh air and enjoying some gentle exercise can make a huge difference to our mental health, especially for people who suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD) in the winter months.