Tories vote for 17% parking hikeBroxbourne car parking charges are set to soar up to 17 per cent as councillors last night approved new fees from next April. The vote comes less than 6 months after parking charges last rose. Between March 2003 and May 2004, car park fees will have risen by 20 to 50 per cent. Speaking after the council meeting, Opposition Leader Alan McCole (Labour, Waltham Cross) said: "With low inflation this year and every year now, these hyperinflationary increases threaten to price our town centres out of the market. The council shouldn't be in the business of penalising people who shop locally. The Tories thought they got away with it last year. They won't be so lucky this time round." Cllr Malcolm Aitken (Labour, Waltham Cross) also opposed the increase. He remarked: "Nothing warrants such hefty increases. It is totally unjust. I fear the Tories are desperate to cut the Council Tax without sparing a thought for the ordinary motorist." At the meeting, Council Leader Liz Clayton (Con, Goffs Oak) cynically remarked: "With the main charge at 45p, we may gain [even more] from people who haven't the change to pay the exact charge." The Environmental Services Committee voted to approve the proposed pay and display car park fees and charges for 2004/05 and determined that the "up to 1 hour" band should be increased by £0.05 (13%).
Labour gain an extra councillor as Tories and BNP fail |
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