Our local businesses are the backbone of our communities.

Councils should be making it easier for people to visit and support them - not pricing them out. That’s why so many residents and business owners are frustrated by Waverley Borough Council’s decision to hike parking charges.

Farnham alone generates over half of Waverley’s total parking income. Instead of supporting the town, the council has chosen to squeeze it further. Haslemere is also feeling the impact.

When I spoke with the owner of David’s of Haslemere, a beloved independent business, she warned that these increases could drive customers away. I recently raised these concerns in Parliament, standing up for family-run businesses that are vital to our local economy.

In Farnham, town centre works under the Farnham Infrastructure Programme are already causing disruption. These long-term changes will hopefully benefit the town eventually, but for now, businesses are struggling.

Instead of supporting them through this difficult period, Waverley has made it more expensive for customers to visit.

For many independent businesses, success hinges on footfall. Higher parking costs will push people away, leaving cafés, shops, and pubs to suffer the consequences.

If customers choose out-of-town retail parks with free parking instead, our high streets will lose out. This doesn’t just impact shop owners, it affects local suppliers, market traders, and the employees who rely on a thriving town centre for their livelihoods.

Once footfall declines, it can be difficult to recover, leading to empty premises and a loss of community vibrancy.

Haslemere residents already struggle with limited parking on weekends and busy evenings. These increases make it even harder.

Running errands, shopping locally, or simply meeting a friend for coffee shouldn’t come with a financial penalty. Councils should be removing barriers to local spending - not creating new ones.

Balancing the budget is important, but so is supporting the local economy. Higher parking charges risk driving people elsewhere, when what we need is a thriving, accessible town centres.

I will continue to challenge these decisions, both locally and in Parliament, and push for policies that help, not hinder, our high streets. Waverley’s businesses and residents deserve a council that listens and delivers solutions that work for everyone.