Car park charge rises will kill cinema, says boss

Bosses of a Kent cinema say it will struggle to survive if rates in the county’s most expensive car parks are increased again.

The regional manager of the Curzon Westgate in Canterbury said the business had already seen visitor numbers plummet since April when hourly parking fees in neighbouring Pound Lane rose from £2.50 to £3.70.

But Canterbury City Council now wants to hike them even further to £3.80, while also increasing the number of car parks in the priciest tariff, the Local Democracy Reporting Service reports.

The council's lead member for parking, Alex Rickets, said "we don't live in a world" where reducing the charges is possible.

Antony Bunger, the cinema’s regional manager, said: “The proposed increase in car park prices will severely affect Curzon Canterbury Westgate’s ability to operate.

“Since the most recent parking restrictions have come in, our admissions have dropped by 50% and the revenue of the cinema has been hit quite severely.

“If the car park prices continue to increase we will be forced to review the viability of the Westgate cinema. This is something that we never thought we would need to do.”

Mr Bunger argued a flat £2 rate to use Pound Lane currently in place between 21:00 and 07:30 GMT should instead be offered from 18:00.

Clare Millett, chief executive of nearby events venue Westgate Hall, said the business is facing a potential loss of £40,000 in 2025 as a direct result of the increases.

“You’re killing businesses with uniform charges of parking,” she told a cabinet meeting.

In April, the city council put all of its sites into five price bands, charging the highest rates in those used most.

For some car parks in Whitstable, it meant increases of £2.10 an hour.

Mr Rickets said: “The simple fact is that we are in a financial situation where we are forced to do these kinds of things.”

A public consultation on the plans is open between 14 November and 6 January.

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