I have just written my formal objection to the Tory plan to introduce parking charges at the Park & Ride sites. Anyone parking for more than hour will face a £1 charge, which rises to £30 depending on how long you park for. There are season tickets for weekly, four-weekly and annual parkers, although the weekly parking ticket offers no discount over the daily charge. The parking charges will be on top of bus fares.

Formal objection to TRO PR0074

The Council invites representations and comments and I am sure they will receive plenty; although as the Tories have already taken the decision, the consultation appears artificial. You might wish to comment on the charging structure, eg season tickets.

The parking charges are being imposed to stem the deficit in the Park & Ride accounts and in the words of Cllr MacGuire, the Tory councillor in charge of the Park & Ride sites, ‘to catch’ people who don’t take the bus in after parking, but walk or cycle.

Liberal Democrats have warned of the risk of reducing usage of the Park & Ride sites, pushing parking elsewhere as well as increasing traffic in the city. We would prefer other ways of making money at the sites to be investigated, such as small-scale retail concessions, or reviewing bus operators’ departure charges.

Here is the formal traffic regulation order: P&R TRO

Send your comments to [email protected] by 14th February, quoting reference PR0074.

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