Workplace car parking charges rules out

Charges for parking at workplaces were today being by ruled out by Midland councils, although other local authorities are pushing ahead with plans.

They could see charges of up to £250 a year levied to park at work.

Authorities including Bristol, York, Hampshire, Leeds, Bournemouth and Wiltshire are considering introducing charges to raise funds and cut congestion.

The levy would apply to private companies that offer staff a place to park at work.

Councils face losing millions when the government reviews spending in October, and will have to look for new ways of raising money.

But Midland councils were today ruling out the idea.

Tory councillor Wendy Thompson, finance boss at Wolverhampton City Council, said: "We can never say never, but so far we have no plans. We won't know the results of the government's comprehensive spending review until October and it will be December before we have proposals in place to deal with it."

Dudley Council, which is facing £70m of cuts, said it had no plans for the levy.

Staffordshire County Council bosses said they also had no plans for it, and Stafford and South Staffordshire Councils have confirmed they have no plans for workplace parking levies.

Some 10 million people drive to work every day.