Lib Dems forced to increase parking charges to meet rising costs (Cambridge Liberal Democrats)

Cambridge Liberal Democrats <camlibdems@gmail.com>

Lib Dems forced to increase parking charges to meet rising costs

October 12, 2009 10:29 AM

Cllr Sian Reid

Cambridge City Council is being forced to bring forward rises in car parking charges across the city to meet rising costs.

New charges will go up by the minimum amount of 10 pence per hour between Monday and Saturday and 20 pence per hour on Sundays, bringing the Sunday price closer to the weekday cost.

The increases will also cover evenings from 5pm, which is the first price rise on these charges for six years.

Last year the council succeeding in encouraging Stagecoach to run better Sunday bus services, giving alternative transport for shoppers and churchgoers. This year the council will ask for services to be improved yet again.

Congestion levels on Cambridge roads on Sundays can be quite bad, particularly during the afternoons, so the council is keen to encourage more bus and cycle use and fewer car journeys.

Executive City Councillor for Change and Growth, Sian Reid said: "It is regrettable that we have to increase prices at this time but we have to cover rising costs.

"The increases will bring prices into line across the city and will generate just over four per cent more income for the city council. Without these measures we would have to make savings elsewhere."

Members of the Cambridge Traffic Management Area Joint Committee are recommended to support the increases at their meeting on Monday, October 19. If given the go-ahead, they will come into force on April 1, 2010.