Council and democracy

Parking price hikes bad for business

The new tariffs are in marked contrast to Croydon Council's recently announced decision to freeze charges for its on-street pay-and-display bays and surface car parks.

The rise is the fourth since NCP took operational control of the town's car parks.

The new rates mean that, in the Fairfield Halls facility, the "up to two hours" band has seen price increases this year of more than 15%. Examination of the same tariff in Dingwall Road car park for the same period reveals a rise of 8%, well above the inflation rate.

With inflation running at about 3%, forecasts for the economy as a whole (including the local economy) are indicating increasingly tough times ahead, and the council considers many of these rises excessive. 

Council leaders feel that such increases will do nothing to boost trade in the town at a time when families are feeling ever-increasing pressure on their budgets as fuel bills and the cost of a range of household goods continue upward.

Councillor Phil Thomas, cabinet member for environment and highways, said: "To say we're disappointed with NCP's decision is something of an understatement.

"The council was hopeful that NCP would take notice of our lead by holding off on a price rise for the coming year.

"We'd hoped that the company's bosses would see that it's in nobody's interest to push up charges at a time when people are seeing their household bills go up, their mortgages costing more each month, and the price of petrol hitting new highs.

"Some are probably having to think twice about a shopping trip to the town centre, and learning that it's going to cost them more when they get here could prove to be the straw that breaks the camel's back. It may well convince them to stay at home or, worse still, elect to take their business to another town.

"This move isn't going to help local businesses, which are already feeling the pinch of the economic downturn.

"This issue is of such importance to Croydon's economy that I have written to NCP, demanding that we meet to discuss the company's future intentions before they're merely notified to the council."