Parking charge rise puts cafe at risk
OWNER FEELS ‘VERY MUCH LET DOWN’ BY CITY COUNCIL
THE owner of a Nottingham cafe has said she is considering the future of the business after the price of her car parking spot went up by 40 per cent.
Denise Morton, coowner of Mary’s Kitchen in Southwell Road, Sneinton, was billed £105 for a month’s parking – up from £75 – at Manvers
Street on Sunday.
The 56-year-old, from Gedling, uses her car to get to suppliers throughout the day and said she felt “very much let down” by Nottingham City Council, which runs the car park.
The authority says that, despite the increase, monthly permits still represented “good value for money”.
Ms Morton, who parks at the city centre site from Monday to Saturday, said she was given no warning of the price hike.
“I went to pay on Sunday evening and it had gone up with no warning or explanation from them,” she told the Post.
“It’s got no security guard who they have to pay wages – or electric gates, so they couldn’t say the price of electricity has gone up. We are going to have to pay this month’s because they haven’t given us any warning.”
Ms Morton described the move as “another nail in the coffin” for her business, which she has run for more than 17 years.
“On its own it wouldn’t, but it’s on top of everything else... There’s only so much people are going to pay for a bacon sandwich – we can’t keep passing the cost on to our customers,” she said. “It’s a difficult time and another difficult decision that’s been put on us. You do think ‘is it worth it any more?’ I feel very much let down. We’ve paid rent to the council every quarter without fail and caused them no trouble. We make such a small amount, which is OK and we’re happy with, but we can’t afford it. You think ‘is it time to call it quits?.’”
A city council spokesperson said: “Prices for monthly permits at our car parks increased last week – this is the first rise in nearly three years.
“All drivers who currently have a fixed contract to park at Manvers Street were informed of the charges going up, whereas others choose a more flexible pay-as-you-go option, having a permit one month and maybe not the next.
“It would be very difficult for us to contact these people in advance, unfortunately, but the new tariff has been advertised on our website. Manvers Street remains one of the cheapest places to park in Nottingham and is in a prime, city-centre location – there is a waiting list here currently. “Even with the recent price increase, drivers with a monthly pass get a guaranteed, numbered space for just £3.39 for the day. We feel this represents good value for money and compares favourably with other car park operators.”
There’s only so much people are going to pay for a bacon sandwich – we can’t keep passing the cost on Denise Morton