Businesses and jobs could be threatened by workplace parking levy,

I don’t think they’ve looked at the personal consequences of what they’re trying to introduce

BIRMINGHAM’S proposed workplace parking levy could force businesses to close or staff to quit jobs, it is claimed.

Businesses have called for clarification on exactly what a levy would mean after the city council voted to explore the possibility of introducing the charge in the city centre.

The scheme would be similar to one operating in Nottingham, where workplaces with more than 11 parking spaces have to pay a fee for each space they own.

Proposals in Birmingham could mean each parking space costs as much as £500 every year.

The council says the policy could bring in around £7 million a year, with the money raised being used to fund projects such as a metro extension to Birmingham Airport.

Mary Vadaie’s business, JM Security Systems, is based in the city centre, and could be one of those having to pay an annual fee.

In Nottingham, 80 per cent of businesses subjected to the charge pass the cost on to employees.

But Ms Vadale has called on the council to meet with businesses to clarify exactly what the policy could entail.

She added that further charges for motorists in the city centre could see her forced to quit her own job.

She said: “We’re a supplier of electronic security systems, so our engineers are out and about on the road, but they do have to come here for meetings, and if they have to pick up parts.

“And then we’ve got a few people who work in the building and have to park up as well.

“But we don’t actually know that much about it. We’re not sure how they’ll define a parking space. Because we don’t have a car park, but we do have a drop kerb – we have a wide frontage so you do have people parking on the pavement.

“So it will be interesting to see how the council is actually going to measure that.”

She added: “Seeing the £7.1 million revenue they’re expecting to gain from this, is it just another way of revenue gaining without talking to businesses?

“They’ve not had any discussions with any of the businesses. I think they need to be meeting with businesses on a local basis, not just having one massive meeting where businesses are told ‘these are going to be the parking restrictions’.

“It has to be local to the impact that it has on not just businesses but local residents.

“I’m in discussion with another company, and the individuals work there part-time like myself. And we’ve had discussions and said that we might actually have to stop working.

“My personal example is my granddaughter off at and pick her up.

“There’s no way I could use public transport. If I were just coming I drop school into work that would be fine, I’d be getting on a bus.

“I don’t think they’ve looked at the personal consequences of what they’re trying to introduce.

“So it’s not just the impact on businesses but businesses could be losing workers.

“Don’t push people out of jobs.” But the council has no intention of using motorists as a ‘cash cow’, leader Ian Ward has claimed.

Leader of the opposition Cllr Robert Alden (Cons) accused the ruling Labour group of using ‘hardworking motorists as a cash cow’, adding that they were introducing proposals which were never part of their election manifesto.

But Cllr Ward said that proposals such as these are vital if the city is to adequately cope with its growing population.

“I’m very disappointed that Cllr