Some parking charges would rise by 200 per cent under new proposals by Stafford Borough Council to increase income from its car parks.
As part of the budget process for 2008-2009, the council has been reviewing charges.
Increases in parking fees would take effect from April 1.
The cabinet will hear on Thursday that short stay parking rates in Stafford would rise from 70p to £1 for an hour (up 42.9 per cent), £1 to £1.80 for two hours (80 per cent), £2 to £2.40 for three hours (20 per cent) and stay at £3 for four hours.
Long stay charges covering 10 hours would rise from £3 to £4 (33.3 per cent).
The 200 per cent increase is for other vehicles using the lorry park with the charge for two hours which would rise from 60p to £1.80.
The charge for lorries to stay 24 hours in lorry parks is to rise from £2.80 to £5 – 78.6 per cent.
In Stone, where charges have not risen since 2002, long stay parking will also increase by 200 per cent from £1 to £3.
Short stay rises are: one hour 20p to 40p (100 per cent), two hours 40p to 80p (100 per cent), three hours 60p to £1.50 (150 per cent) and four hours 80p to £2 (150 per cent).
The hire rate for Stafford’s Market Square for commercial events is to rise by 223.3 per cent from £92.80 to £300.
A 100 per cent increase is planned for the purchase of memorial tablets for the Tixall Road burial ground from £232 to £464.
The leader of the opposition Labour group Councillor Jack Kemp said that it was another example of the controlling Tory group applying taxes by stealth.
He said the controlling group was aiming to keep its council tax rise below 4 per cent and was doing this by increasing charges excessively.
“They have dug themselves a hole and are now just digging it deeper,” he added.
He said car parking charges had already been increased in Stafford by the Tories and the new increases followed increases in leisure charges already introduced this year.
“Some of these increases are hitting the most vulnerable people,” he added.
Councillor Kemp pledged that his party would challenge rises in charges when they were presented to the scrutiny committees over coming months.
3 Comments
Well that’s just fantastic news. Once again the normal working-class are being loaded with yet more prices increases.
One things for sure, it certainly isnt getting any better or any cheaper to live in the UK.
Laughable when labour are totally against this Tory movement, they’d be doing exactly the same. Its a no win situation. Councils need to raise extra revenue because they’re getting less and less each year from the government. And who pays for it all? Yes, the tax payers.
Taxes increase, the government pays less of this to local councils, so councils charge the communty again. Its completely nuts!
Once a great nation, now its a disgrace to the people who live and breath there. Plain to see why the americans fought for their independance from uk taxes many many years ago.
Isn’t Labour accusing the Conservatives of introducing “stealth taxes” a case of the pot calling the kettle black? Perhaps if this Government stopped subsidising the Scots to introduce free prescriptions and free school meals, etc then there might be some money left over to properly fund English local authorities so that they don’t have to resort to hiking up parking charges.
These charges will take effect from april fools day I wont be going my cars not worth much more than £3