CUMBERLAND Council has provided an update on the future of car parks in North Cumbria after losing more than £400k between April and June this year. 

Ever since the coronavirus pandemic, which has subsequently seen millions of people across the world work from home, car park usage has dwindled in the UK. 

Cumberland Council posted a £0.410m net adverse variance between April and June this year which has been confirmed by a recent finance report.

Shortfalls in income compared to budget in relation to the multi-storey car park in Workington (£0.270m) and Carlisle off-street car parks (£0.237m), were the two main contributing factors.

This was generated by the impact of changes in shopping habits and a shift in working patterns towards home and hybrid working on demand for car parking spaces within the town centres.

A Cumberland Council spokesperson said: "Cumberland Council are currently undertaking a review of all of our car parks to understand how they support the Council’s priorities. When undertaking the review, we will closely evaluate our existing assets and how they are currently being utilised.

"In addition to this, we will also review how these assets can support the upcoming regeneration in our towns and city, ensuring that there are appropriate parking facilities across Cumberland."

Cumberland Council which offered free parking at weekends and bank holidays were forced to  end the scheme in March 2023. 

The decision to grant free parking in Carlisle was made in February last year and was hailed at the time as an ‘investment’ in the local economy which was attempting to bounce back following the pandemic lockdown shortly followed by a national cost-of-living crisis.

The cost of the first hour of parking in former city council car parks also rose from £1 to £1.40, a decision which was met with frustration and anger by local people in Carlisle. 

Now Cumberland Council is being forced to review all of its car parks after the recent financial results.