Enderby EYE

the village ...and beyond

Campaigners pledge to fight parking charge

Protestors say plans will kill off local business

17 March 2008

Blaby District Council has drawn up plans to scrap its policy of 'free parking' and charge up to £4.50 a day at some of its car parks.

The Council says it can no longer afford to spend £135,000 per annum running its sites without genrating any income.

The Council believes annual income of around £225,000 could be generated from charges and parking fines handed to people when their ticket expires.

Opponents of the plans have pledged to put up a fight believing the plans will sound the 'death knell' for some local businesses.

A report by Council officers says severe financial pressures will occur over the next three to five years because of increased costs and reduced grants from Government.

The report's conclusions will be discussed at a scrutiny meeting due to be held next week,

Council leader Ernie White has told local media that the council was being forced to look at ways to generate extra income.

Indicating that he was keen to have wide consultation on this issue, Cllr. White said there was a responsibility to ensure valuable car-parking spaces were not used, for example, by people parking cars for the day and leaving the area by train.

According to Cllr. White, the Council are not looking to make profit but rather to 'break even'. The belief is that parking charges will lead to a 'healthy turnover' of customers throughout the day and will help business.

Five car parks have been identified for pay-and-display schemes.

Acording to a council report, at Narborough Railway Station and Wigston Road, in Blaby, parkers could be charged a flat fee of £3 for up to 10 hours.

Parking could be free for stays of between 20 minutes and an hour in Narborough's Weavers Court car park, and Enderby Road and John's Court car parks, in Blaby.

The cost would then be about 50p per half hour stay - rising to a maximum of £4.50p for full day parking. Sunday parking would be free.

Residents and businesses fought off similar plans in 2004 after more than 3000 people signed petitions against parking charges.

In February 2006, plans to charge for parking at Enderby Leisure Centre were put on hold because it was necessary to 'control problems caused by 'displacement' parking' and such provisions would take time to implement.

Speaking about the Leisure Centre parking in that year, Cllr. White said "Our objective continues to be to shift the cost burden away from the Council Tax payer towards the car park user. However it has become clear that at present, the time is not right for us to make this major change."

It would appear that now, two years further on, budgetary considerations are forcing the Council's hand on the question of maintaining its various car parks around the district.

The bill for operating the Council's car parks currently runs at £135,000 per year.

The Council estimates that charging for parking together with associated penalty charges could bring in around £225.000.

No doubt the problems of 'displacement' parking and the effect on local traders has been sorted in these cases ...or has it?

Campaigners are pledging to keep a close eye on events.

Associated links:

» Blaby District Council

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