Changes to Elwick Place Car Park free parking arrangements

Following a review into parking tariffs across the borough, Ashford Borough Council will be implementing some changes to parking tariffs at Elwick Place Car Park (EPCP) from 1 November 2026.

Currently, parking tariffs are reviewed on a triennial basis and ensure that the council’s arrangements are fit for purpose, reflect costs associated with operating the service and are supportive of wider corporate objectives. 

The previous review was approved in July 2023 and implemented from October 2023. In accordance with this cycle, parking charges across the borough are now due for further consideration. 

From 1 November 2026 a £1 flat-rate overnight charge will be introduced at Elwick Place Car Park between the hours of 16:00 to 08:00, which means that the standard charging period will be between 09:00-16:00. We are allowing a free period between 08:00 and 09:00 hours to prevent early day time users being affected by the overnight charge. 

Free parking at EPCP after 3pm was initially introduced in 2019 as an initiative by the council to support Ashford Town Centre and to encourage shoppers to support local businesses and events.

After maintaining this concession for seven years, the council’s priority is to ensure that Elwick Place Car Park continues to be used by residents and visitors accessing the facilities at Elwick Place and supporting the wider town centre economy.

Four hours of daily free parking at EPCP will still be available to The Ashford Cinema users and this offer will still remain in place for when residents and visitors enjoy the new leisure and entertainment facilities which are launching at Elwick Place soon.

The council can also confirm that “free after 3pm” (Monday to Saturday) and free parking all day Sunday will be available for six months at the new interim surface level car park situated at the former Park Mall site once it is ready for use and more details on this will be shared once available.

The introduction of this flat-rate overnight charge at EPCP will establish a clearer and more consistent charging structure across the council’s parking portfolio, recognising that council car parks continue to incur maintenance, lighting, cleansing, security and management costs outside normal operating hours. 

The charge will also help ensure that overnight users make a reasonable contribution towards these costs while maintaining a highly affordable parking option, whilst discouraging the long-term storage of vehicles, and discouraging the overnight use of EPCP as a replacement for residential parking.

This will help to ensure that spaces remain available for legitimate overnight parking demands and at £1 per night, the charge represents a low-cost and convenient option for users while generating additional income that can be reinvested into the maintenance, improvement and long-term sustainability of parking services across the borough in line with the council’s Parking Strategy 2026-2030.

Councillor Steve Campkin, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Climate, Environment and Sustainability at Ashford Borough Council, said: “I welcome the review of the council's parking tariff at Elwick Place Car Park, as I’m sure this car park wasn’t designed to become a free overnight vehicle storage hub after 3pm.

“I feel it’s important to remember that although ABC maintained free parking after 3pm for seven years at EPCP, the incentive was introduced as a temporary offer rather than a permanent one. I do hope that residents will understand why this small charge is now being introduced which ultimately will support the delivery of a sustainable, well-managed and financially resilient parking service moving forward. 

“We also have to take into consideration increasing operating costs, changing parking demand and the need to maintain a fair and consistent charging structure across the borough.

“The additional income will help support the ongoing maintenance and improvement of the parking service and contribute towards the council's Medium Term Financial Plan.” 

View more information on free parking in Ashford.

View more information on Elwick Place Car Park including FAQs on the changes from 1 November 2026.