Thousands face paying more for parking as Sunday charges come in

Thousands of city centre residents will have to pay more for their parking permits after controversial Sunday parking charges come into force.

An 8.5 per cent hike in the cost of residents’ permits in the central zones 1-4 to coincide with the extension of parking controls to cover Sunday afternoon s has already been approved in principle.

And that will come on top of the five per cent price increase proposed as part of next year’s council budget.

But today the move was attacked as“insulting” and “not reasonable”.

For owners of cars requiring the most expensive permits, the two increases together would take the annual cost of parking outside their own homes from £ 475 to over £ 540.

The middle- priced permit – currently £ 235 a year – would increase by more than £ 32.

The council says t he price rise is to pay for increased enforcement on Sundays when parking charges are introduced – probably in early 2019.

The council says t he price rise is to pay for increased enforcement on Sundays when parking charges are introduced–probably in early 2019. But Ian M ow at, chairman of New Town and Broughton Community Council, said it was “quite wrong” that residents should face a rise.

Transport convener Councillor Lesley Macinnes defended the increase and said all income from parking was reinvested in road main tenance and transport infrastructure.

She said: “Parking restric - tions benefit businesses and residents by deterring all- day parking and encouraging the frequent turnaround of spaces for visitors and shoppers.

“They also maintain visibility and space for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers and open the road for larger vehicles, such as buses and lorries.”