Plan to raise price of residents’ parking permits is attacked

LIBERAL Democrat plans to hike residents’ parking permits by almost 26 per cent have been slammed by city councillors amid concerns over “bull****” reasons to justify the increase.

- Carmelo GARCIA

Gloucestershire County Council's chiefs are hoping to raise £338,000 more during the next financial year by charging residents more in residential parking permits and on-street parking fees.

Their budget proposals, which were scrutinised at the corporate overview and scrutiny committee on January 7, suggest increasing a households’ first parking permit from £63.60 currently to £80 from April - an increase of 25.8 per cent.

The cost for a second parking permit would also be hiked to £160 from £127.35 currently.

On-street parking charges would also be increased at above inflation rates, council chiefs said.

Finance, assets and transformation cabinet member Colin Hay (All Saints and Oakley) told the meeting they were looking to increase the charges to help cover costs.

“We think it's justified,’ he said. “It will still mean a deficit for that area but we do need to catch up on those charges.

“When you look at the charges compared to other parts of the country. We are towards the top end. But it varies so much.”

He said there are areas where residential permits are free and other areas where they are much more expensive than in the county.