Lurke Street Car Park Faces Increase In Short Stay Parking Charges

3.56.11pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 18th Oct 2004

Lib Dems Fear Increased Charges Could Drive Shoppers Away From Bedford

For the third year running shoppers are being given an unwanted Christmas bonus. Lurke Street car parking charges are to increase yet again.

Lib Dems on the borough council are amazed that yet again car park charges are to be put up. This year Tory Finance Portfolio holder Barry Huckle has replaced Mayor Frank Branston as the decision maker. Under the plans short stay shoppers will see charges in Lurke Street increase from 60 pence to a pound for an hours stay. Lib Dems have spoken out that this will drive shoppers and other short stay visitors to look elsewhere and miss out Bedford altogether.

Lib Dem Group Leader, Michael Headley said:

" Here we are in the run up to Christmas and again there is talk of car parking fares being put up. Since the Mayor was elected his cabinet have put up car parking fees at Lurke Street by over 100%. These latest increases are planned to take effect from January of next year. An hours stay goes up from 60p to a £1.00. It will be far cheaper for people to park on the streets than in the car parks. Obviously I am concerned about this increase but I am also worried that it could price people out of using that car park altogether. If this occurs the car park would bring in less money than it currently does. This just makes no sense."

"Last year we saw some crocodile tears from the Tories about car park increases, this year they are the ones putting the idea forward. If we are serious about getting more people to use the town centre to shop we have got to come up with a strategy that encourages them to come to Bedford. Whacking up car park charges on an annual basis is hardly likely to achieve this. "

The proposal will now be discussed by the Executive on Wednesday 20th October.

ENDS

Note to Editors

On Street Car Parking within the Controlled Parking Zone costs 40p per hour.

In 2002 the charge for a two hour stay at Lurke Street Car Park was 60p.