Plans to end free weekend parking in an effort to tackle climate change have been agreed by a council.

The motion to begin charging for Sunday parking in the Sevenoaks district was approved at the council’s Cabinet meeting on Thursday (October 12).

However, in the same session it was decided that parking prices in council-run car parks would be frozen for 12 months.

Previously parking was free in all Sevenoaks car parks on Sundays except at Blighs in the town centre and Bradbourne car park by the railway station.

Cllr Margot McArthur said: “Despite significant increases in our costs, we have taken a decision to freeze all parking charges from April because supporting residents, businesses and visitors is a top priority for the Council.

“At the same time, as part of setting a balanced budget, we will introduce our standard charges on Sundays at all our parking locations. With a growing Sunday economy, it’s only right that customers who use our parking facilities contribute towards their upkeep.

“Ending most free parking also supports our efforts to tackle climate change by encouraging more people to visit our towns using sustainable forms of transport.

“However, we will still offer free weekend parking in our staff car park a short walk from Sevenoaks town centre.”

Once these changes come into practice in April 2024, the only free parking available in council-run car parks in the town will be at the council’s offices on Gordon Road.

Sevenoaks District Council has previously kept their parking charges at the same rate for more than six years.

During lockdown they were also the first authority in Kent to remove all charges in its car parks and the last in the county to reintroduce them.

The council says the income generated from the Sunday charges will be used to pay towards the increased cost of providing parking and any surplus income will be invested in services.