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Tories attack office parking levy | Tories attack office parking levy |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Plans to charge employees for using parking spaces at work have been criticised by the Conservatives. | Plans to charge employees for using parking spaces at work have been criticised by the Conservatives. |
The UK's first office parking levy scheme is to be introduced in Nottingham to help pay for an extension to the city's tram network. | The UK's first office parking levy scheme is to be introduced in Nottingham to help pay for an extension to the city's tram network. |
Ministers have approved the council's proposal but said it cannot start until 2012, two years later than intended, to give businesses time to adjust. | Ministers have approved the council's proposal but said it cannot start until 2012, two years later than intended, to give businesses time to adjust. |
The Tories say the annual fee of up to £350 per space will hurt businesses. | The Tories say the annual fee of up to £350 per space will hurt businesses. |
Ministers gave local authorities the powers to introduce workplace parking charges to fund public transport improvements in 2000 but Nottingham Council is the first to request them. | Ministers gave local authorities the powers to introduce workplace parking charges to fund public transport improvements in 2000 but Nottingham Council is the first to request them. |
'Hit enterprise' | 'Hit enterprise' |
The government approved Nottingham's tram extension on Friday and said it would contribute £530m towards the project. | The government approved Nottingham's tram extension on Friday and said it would contribute £530m towards the project. |
It also said the council could go ahead with a levy on office parking spaces to help pay for its share of the project as well as the redevelopment of the city's railway station. | It also said the council could go ahead with a levy on office parking spaces to help pay for its share of the project as well as the redevelopment of the city's railway station. |
But it said this could not begin until April 2012 - later than the council requested - due to the impact of the recession and to allow firms and employees time to consider transport alternatives. | But it said this could not begin until April 2012 - later than the council requested - due to the impact of the recession and to allow firms and employees time to consider transport alternatives. |
Schemes may only be introduced if they will contribute to the achievement of local transport policies Department of Transport class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/england/nottinghamshire/8177766.stm">Ministers back parking levy plan | |
From then, workers at companies with 11 or more parking spaces could be liable for charges. | From then, workers at companies with 11 or more parking spaces could be liable for charges. |
The Conservatives said the tax would be an extra burden on business when it could least afford it. | The Conservatives said the tax would be an extra burden on business when it could least afford it. |
"At a time when jobs are under huge pressure, it is wrong to hit enterprise in Nottingham with a workplace parking levy," shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers told the Daily Telegraph. | "At a time when jobs are under huge pressure, it is wrong to hit enterprise in Nottingham with a workplace parking levy," shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers told the Daily Telegraph. |
"These new charges will be a real blow to the city and we oppose them." | "These new charges will be a real blow to the city and we oppose them." |
Business groups oppose the plan, saying it could force firms to re-locate. They are concerned other councils will follow suit, regarding it as an efficient money-raising idea. | Business groups oppose the plan, saying it could force firms to re-locate. They are concerned other councils will follow suit, regarding it as an efficient money-raising idea. |
But transport groups say the plans are sensible and will help to reduce congestion, to the benefit of local firms. | But transport groups say the plans are sensible and will help to reduce congestion, to the benefit of local firms. |
The Department of Transport said it was "entirely" up to councils to decide if workplace charges were an appropriate way of paying for public transport improvements and reducing congestion. | The Department of Transport said it was "entirely" up to councils to decide if workplace charges were an appropriate way of paying for public transport improvements and reducing congestion. |
"Schemes may only be introduced if they will contribute to the achievement of local transport policies, with all revenues reinvested in local transport," a spokeswoman said. | "Schemes may only be introduced if they will contribute to the achievement of local transport policies, with all revenues reinvested in local transport," a spokeswoman said. |
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