Rise for second permit holders?

1:01pm Friday 28th March 2008

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RESIDENTS with second parking permits in Southampton could be hit by huge hikes under a council plan to make the scheme "self-funding".

The leader of the city council made the suggestion in an apparent climbdown over a controversial plan to start charging for the first permit.

Figures released by the council show it costs about £840,000 to run residents parking zones yet just under £495,000 comes in from penalty charges and permit sales.

It could mean some residents paying hundreds of pounds to park outside their homes to provide the council with more money so the scheme pays for itself. The Labour and Lib Dem coalition Cabinet provoked uproar from residents when it agreed a policy to charge for all residents' parking permits yet refused to guarantee them a space.

As the Daily Echo launched its Parking Mad campaign demanding a U-turn on the plans, it was further revealed that most of the Cabinet wouldn't need to pay as they have driveways or garages.

Labour councillor June Bridle was then accused of trying to fool the electorate when she pledged not to introduce new permit charges for at least 12 months with upcoming local elections in May. But she refused to rip up the hated policy.

Other options In a statement her administration said: "Other options will be explored to achieve the aspiration of the (parking policy) framework to make the scheme self-funding.

"Once developed by officers, these will be brought back for detailed consideration by the Cabinet."

Cllr Bridle added: "It might be the second permit needs to be more expensive and you don't need to pay for the first."

Opposition councillors are questioning where the money will come from.

Transport chiefs say they need £342,000 to make the scheme self-funding. While there are 6,280 residents with free permits, 550 residents have paid £57.50 for a second. But if only second permit holders were forced to make the scheme pay for itself they would face huge bills of £622.

Tory spokesman for transport councillor Gavin Dick said: "They've just not thought through the policy. They are making ad-hoc comments to try to appease things because there is an election around the corner."

He added: "To make the scheme self-funding they will have to charge the people who use it. Otherwise they are looking to charge elsewhere.

"Where are they going to put those increases in charges? There are going to be charges somewhere.

"They should just scrap the policy."