Councillors have driven through car park victory
OPPOSITION councillors in Stockport have hailed a ‘victory’ in the debate over increases to car parking charges.
A raft of possible changes in the town centre proposed by the ruling Labour group last month include getting rid of the one-hour tariff, so the minimum cost is £1.60 for two hours, increasing the charging period in car parks by two hours, and increasing the charges at the cheaper car parks.
In terms of the district centres, town hall bosses proposed increasing the two-hour rate in car parks from 40p to 50p and getting rid of the one-hour rate – and putting charges in place at car parks close to train stations that are currently free.
The proposals, which are aimed at raising an additional £500,000 from parking to help the council balance its books, sparked a backlash from business leaders, with the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) calling them ‘bad news’.
Now members of Stockport’s Conservative group say they have secured a ‘Stockport-wide victory’ after plans to introduce charges at car parks in Bramhall, Marple, Romiley and Heald Green, and to get rid of the one-hour rate and increase the charge to 50p, were dropped.
The amendments were confirmed following last week’s cabinet meeting, and Tory councillors also suggested that all town centre car parks should be free for the first 15 minutes.