Firms plan parking tax challenge

Business leaders opposed to the Workplace Parking Levy in Nottingham are being asked to help finance a legal challenge to the scheme.

The city council has given the go-ahead to the parking tax, which will come into force in 2012 and start at £253 per space per year.

Council officials say it is needed to pay for expansion of the tram network.

But at a meeting on Monday night business owners decided to look into funding legal action to stop it.

It's damaging the reputation of Nottingham Roger Speakman, Imperial Tobacco

They say it will damage the local economy and deal another blow to struggling firms.

A consultation will now be held, led by the chamber of commerce, asking 350 businesses that will be affected by the levy whether they would financially back court action.

Roger Speakman, of Nottingham-based Imperial Tobacco, is backing the idea.

The company has 700 staff parking spaces, which would be taxed £177,000 in 2012.

Mr Speakman said: "We have tried to persuade the council of its folly. It's loading businesses with yet more tax, making it more difficult to compete, damaging the reputation of Nottingham."

The council owns more than 5,000 staff parking spaces across the city, which would result in tax of more than £1.2m.

Barry Horne, of the city council, said: "I'm disappointed because I think now is the time to move on and prepare for the introduction of the levy."

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