Geel (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Geel city council is considering higher parking rates in its new multi-year plan to boost revenue, but DURF opposes the idea, saying it would not benefit residents or local businesses.
As GVA News reported, the city council of Geel is preparing a new multi-year financial plan for the next 5 years. They mentioned that to keep the budget stable, the council is studying several possibilities. One of the options being considered is a change to the parking policy in the city centre. The plan could include higher parking fees and the removal of some concessions that currently make parking cheaper or free.
“That’s why I want to make it clear to the coalition that implementing this adjustment is absolutely not a good idea,“
says council member Myriam Smets of DURF.
“I’m going to question the city council about this at the next council meeting (on November 17th, ed.). Hopefully, the council will realise that the planned measures won’t benefit the people of Geleen and will be a heavy blow to our local businesses, our hospitality industry, and our tourism industry.”
What will Geel’s new parking plan mean for residents?The opposition party DURF has raised objections to the possible rate increase. The party warns that higher parking costs create extra pressure on residents. City leaders say all options must be carefully reviewed to deal with financial challenges.
Council member Smets says,
“You can hardly call it a ‘simple change to parking policy when you consider what the proposed measures actually mean. When you compare everything, it clearly shows a 100 percent increase in costs.”
“When you put everything side by side, it clearly shows a tax increase of 100 percent.”
Myriam Smets Municipal councillor (DURF)
In the red zone, which covers most central streets except Pas, Nieuwstraat, Dornik, and Verbuckenstraat, the hourly parking rate would increase from €2 to €2.50. In the yellow zone, which includes nearly all city centre car parks except the Ecodroom underground car park, the rate would go up from €1 to €1.50. At the same time, the current free parking period of one hour in these car parks would be reduced to 30 minutes.
The draft plan would also double the flat-rate fine for drivers who do not buy a ticket or stay beyond their paid time, increasing it from €15 to €30. Another measure being examined is the removal of the yellow parking disc linked to the Geel half-hour pass.
“The first free half-hour will remain, but you can no longer claim it with the yellow card. This means you have to go to the parking meter for a ticket, or start a parking session via your app or text message. That’s very cumbersome if you just need to run an errand at a local business,“
grumbles Myriam Smets.
“If this change is implemented, the city’s revenue will double, but for the residents, it will be a heavy, additional burden. We can’t stand that people in Geel have to pay twice to park in their own city.”
Geel first introduced its current parking system in 2019 to reduce parking pressure in the city centre. The plan divided the area into red and yellow zones, with different rates to manage short- and long-term parking. In 2020, the city added digital parking meters and launched the Geel half-hour pass, which allowed drivers short free stops using a yellow parking disc. The parking rates and rules have stayed mostly the same since then.
In 2023, the city started work on its new multi-year plan from 2026-2031, while working at the same time on balancing rising expenses and future investments. By October 2025, officials have confirmed that possible parking changes are currently being discussed, including increasing fees, shortening free parking time, and taking away the yellow parking disc.
