Parking levy 'may boost economy'

A controversial plan to charge businesses in Nottingham to use their private parking spaces may improve the city's economy, a think tank has said.

Adam Marshall, from Centre for Cities, said schemes like the Workplace Parking Levy provided key funds in a recession.

If approved, employers with more than 10 spaces will begin paying up to £350 per space, per year, from April 2010.

Councillors said money from the scheme, designed to cut congestion, would help fund transport projects in the city.

Mr Marshall, Head of Policy and Development at the independent think tank, said: "I think it could result in some economic benefits for Nottingham.

"With tightening of government funding in the future, these kind of schemes may be the only way to deliver some of the infrastructure that we want to see."

WORKPLACE PARKING LEVY Employers will be charged up to £350 per parking space, per year Government to make a decision on whether to implement scheme by June Businesses with fewer than 10 spaces, emergency services and disabled bays exempt

Transport investment

Councillor Jane Urquhart said more than £400m had been guaranteed by the government for Nottingham's transport development, providing the city could secure a local contribution.

She said: "We need further contribution and that is where the private sector come in, through the workplace parking levy.

"It is people commuting to their place of work that makes the greatest contribution to our congestion."

Ms Urquhart said, if approved, the scheme would be implemented in April 2010.

She said she was hopeful the economy would be in recovery by then but suggested the proposal would go ahead even if it had not.

Ms Urquhart said: "It needs to go ahead to secure the long-term economic regeneration of our city and economic competitiveness."

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