News from Westminster Labour

Westminster Conservatives jack residents’ parking permit charges up by 10%

Westminster Conservatives are planning to increase the cost of a Residents’ Parking Permit by 10% this August, from £120 to £132 a year, increasing the profit the Council makes from residents’ parking by £189,000 in 2010/11 and by £379,000 in 2011/12.

This latest price rise will increase the Council’s profit from Residents’ Parking Permits to £3.2 million a year in 2011/12.

This price increase was not mentioned in the Conservatives’ Council Election Manifesto in May. However, at the Council Elections Labour promised a £10 a year CUT in the cost of a Resident’s Parking Permit to be paid for by scrapping the loss-making Motorbike Parking Charges.

Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg, Leader of the Labour Group; said: “Once again, the Conservatives have increased parking charges for residents following an election. Nothing breeds contempt more for double-dealing Conservative politicians than announcing price rises after an election. There is absolutely no need to increase the cost of a residents’ parking permit other than to fill the £20 million hole in the Council’s finances created by the incompetent Conservatives. Why should residents have to pay for the mess the Conservatives have caused?”