'PARKING RATES ARE KILLING US'

BARBICAN TRADERS SAY NEW FEES ARE FINAL NAIL IN THE COFFIN’

- OLIVER MAISSA

Increase in car parking rates hitting businesses

IT'S THE FINAL NAIL IN THE COFFIN', SAY BARBICAN SHOPS

INDEPENDENT business owners on the Barbican say a hike in car parking charges is 'the final nail in the coffin' as the cost of living hampers sales and affects trade during a start-of-the-year slump.

Parking charges were increased across Plymouth in December in a bid to plug the council's £25m black hole.

Parking fees and charges had not risen in the last five years and Plymouth's fees were amongst the lowest available.

The charges include bringing onstreet parking charges more in line with other cities, increasing the fee for an hour's parking by 50p to £2 an hour.

The price of residents' parking permits in line with inflation will be raised from £30 to £41 a year.