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Parking charges to rocket in Brighton & Hove

By James Ledward
Nov 24, 2011 - 10:20:49 PM
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Clle Gill Mitchell
Parking charges are set to rocket by as much as 100% across Brighton & Hove, as part of the Green Council’s controversial ‘Citywide Parking Review’.
 
The proposals due to be considered by the Green Transport Cabinet Member, Ian Davey on Monday, November 28 include:

 ·    More than doubling of the cost of Trade and Business Permits.
·    A 6.5% increase in the cost of resident permits to £115.
·    Charging for on-street pay and display parking on Sundays and a new higher weekend rate in Council-run car parks.
·    A new extended ‘high’ charging zone in central Brighton.
·    Huge increases in seafront parking rates of up to 170% including a new £10 for 4 hours and £20 all day rate.
·    Deletion of 15 and 30 minute tariffs which allow people to carry out a quick errand.
·    Introduction of a new ‘Permit Administration Fee’ of £10.

Labour & Co-operative Councillors believe these increased parking charges will hit residents and local small businesses hard during the present tough times and may damage the city economy.
 
Labour & Co-operative Leader, Councillor Gill Mitchell, said:
“The Greens are not only trying to price people out of their cars but are damaging the city’s economy with these eye-watering increases for local trader and business permits. Traders will have no option but to pass these huge increases onto their customers, so residents are being hit twice.
 
“By refusing to progress plans for a Park & Ride scheme that would enable visitors to come into the city comfortably and without their cars, the Greens’ parking increases will simply send people away to other towns that will benefit at our expense.  This is a congestion charge in all but name.”

Graham Cox, The Conservative candidate in the coming Westbourne by-election, has described the Green Administration’s proposals as a ‘hammer blow’ to residents and local businesses.
 
Graham said:
“It is irresponsible for the Greens to be imposing these eye-watering increases at a time when local businesses and families across the city are struggling to make ends meet. They should be encouraging people to come into Brighton & Hove to spend their money in local shops and restaurants. If people are put off visiting the city these extra taxes will not even raise more money for the council. These short-sighted proposals will have the exact opposite effect.”
 
He added:
“These are extra taxes in everything but name. To expect a local tradesman to find an extra £400, simply to be able to carry on his or her business is preposterous.”

Cllr Ian Davey, Cabinet Member for Transport & Public Realm said:
“The parking review aims to make the city’s parking system clearer, fairer and more consistent. Some will go up and some down.
 
“Parking charges are reviewed every year and generally charges have been raised by all administrations. This has helped with parking management and has contributed to the reduction in the number of vehicles driving into the city.
 
“There are too many cars looking for too few spaces and nobody benefits when people are forced to sit and queue in their vehicles. We also have serious problems with traffic-related air pollution in the city. Far from improving, air quality in some areas is getting worse.
 
“Two-thirds of journeys start and end within the city. We hope that people will choose other forms of transport for at least some of their journeys and therefore will not incur parking charges. Any surplus collected from the increases would be reinvested into transport schemes such as free bus travel for over 60s, better transport links, school travel planning and highways maintenance.”
 


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