Nottingham goes ahead with £288 annual charge per space
Nottingham has finally introduced a workplace parking levy nearly two and a half years after the City Council gave it the go-ahead.
The scheme will see all businesses which have eleven or more employees parking on their premises being charged £288 per space in the current year, rising steeply after that:
1st April 2013 – 31st March 2014: £334
1 April 2014 – 31 March 2015: £364
1 April 2015 – 31 March 2016: £381
The Council says the levy is to cut congestion in the city and that it will use the money raised to fund better public transport:
“The WPL will provide funding for NET Phase Two, the extensions to the existing tram system, as well the redevelopment of Nottingham Railway Station (the Hub project) and is also intended to support the popular Link bus network.”
Responding to the introduction of the levy, Professor Stephen Glaister, director of the RAC Foundation, said:
“The City Council blames commuters for Nottingham’s congestion, but people travelling in to the city to work make it the prosperous place it is. Officials recognise many firms might simply pass the charges on to employees adding yet another financial burden onto car owners already facing crippling running costs.
“Businesses and their workers also need to beware of the huge hike in prices already confirmed for the future. The levy will jump 15% next year and be 32% higher within three years.
“Nottingham has suffered chronic congestion in the city centre for years and has looked for the best way to mitigate the situation. However, by using a stick rather than a carrot approach it is likely to be shift workers and the lower paid who end up footing the lion’s share of the charges.
“Buses and trams do not run frequently outside regular office hours, and many mums with young children don’t have time to do the school run and get the tram to work.”
ENDS
Contact:
Philip Gomm – Head of External Communications
020 7747 3486 / 07711 776448 / 020 7389 0601 (ISDN)
Notes to editors:
The RAC Foundation is a charity that explores the economic, mobility, safety and environmental issues relating to roads and responsible road users. Independent and authoritative research, carried out for the public benefit, is central to the Foundation’s activities.
More details about the parking levy can be found at: