Totton’s weekly car boot sale collapses after parking fees end
The 25-year-old Totton car boot sale in Hampshire shut its doors on Sunday after the district council withdrew free parking for buyers. Organisers say the July events were axed and no return is planned unless parking charges are reversed.
The final echoes of car boots slamming shut at dawn over Salisbury Road’s War Memorial car park fell silent on Sunday, ending a 25-year tradition in Totton, Hampshire. The weekly event, which drew hundreds of bargain hunters and traders to one of the town’s few remaining affordable market spaces, held its last session after Totton and Eling Town Council followed New Forest District Council’s decision to scrap free Sunday parking for buyers.
Organisers confirmed the July 5, August 2, August 16, September 6 and September 20 events were cancelled and no future dates had been rescheduled. A statement on the sale’s final poster read: “New Forest District Council will not allow free parking eight times a year for buyers attending the car boot sale.”
Key Points
- ✅ Totton’s weekly car boot sale ended after 25 years
- ⚡ Free Sunday parking for buyers was withdrawn by New Forest District Council
- 💡 Organisers say no events are planned until charges are reversed
Cllr David Harrison, Liberal Democrat representative for Totton South, accused the district council of applying a rigid “one-size-fits-all” parking policy that ignored local needs. “This car park is mostly empty on Sunday mornings except for our buyers,” he said. “Yet the council refuses to bend the rules, even though Totton is not Lyndhurst or Lymington. You can’t treat every town the same.” Harrison argued that consistency in charging should not come at the cost of killing a community staple that raised funds for local organisations.
| Parking Policy | Totton Car Boot | District-Wide |
|---|---|---|
| Free Sunday parking for buyers | Previously allowed | Never permitted |
| Event day flexibility | Requested exceptions | Rejected by policy |
| Local impact | High footfall | Standardised charges |
The car park normally offers up to five hours of free parking across 101 spaces to support local shops and businesses on non-event days. A council spokesperson said organisers and councillors had been consulted before the change and an offer to meet had been made but not taken up. “We manage car parks fairly and consistently across the district,” the spokesperson said. “Proceeds from the car boot supported local groups, but community grants and the new lottery already fund these efforts.”
💡 Pro Tip
If you’re a small trader or charity, check your town council’s event parking policies before relying on them—some may still offer seasonal concessions.
Figures show the council has allocated £157,500 in community grants and £98,000 in capital projects for 2026/27, plus over £14,000 raised by the New Forest Community Lottery this year. Critics say the money replaces only part of the boot sale’s community contribution and fails to account for the loss of a low-cost trading platform for pensioners and startups.
📋 By The Numbers
- 101 — Total parking spaces in War Memorial car park
- 8 — Annual Sundays previously exempt from parking charges
- £157,500 — Community grants set aside for 2026/27
- £14,000+ — Amount raised by the New Forest Community Lottery this year
Harrison is now calling for a review of parking policy in Totton, urging the district council to recognise the unique role of local events in sustaining town centres. “We’re not asking for a blank cheque,” he said. “We’re asking for a fair hearing.” Organisers have not ruled out a return if charges are reversed, but for now, Totton’s car boots remain packed away.