Parking permit charges - no Lib Dem collaboration if Tories ignore public consultation

8.31.54pm BST (GMT +0100) Sun 30th Jul 2006

Well, my news release - announcing the Lib Dem City Council will refuse to collect Residents' Parking Zone charges on behalf of the County Council should the Tory Cabinet decide to force this unfair scheme on Oxford residents in the face of local opposition - caused a bit of a media kerfuffle last Friday. "It's civic war over permits," screamed the Mail; even the more demure Times led with, "City's threat to rebel over car parking charges".

In fact, the day was so taken up fielding calls and interviews (oh, and trying to do my real job, the one that pays the mortgage), I didn't have time even to copy and paste my press release on my website. So, belatedly, here it is.

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LIB DEMS PLEDGE NOT TO COLLECT "UNFAIR TORY STEALTH TAX"

The Liberal Democrats have announced the City Council will refuse to collect Residents Parking Zone charges on behalf of the County Council should the Tory Cabinet decide to force this unfair scheme on Oxford residents in the face of local opposition.

The City Council has been responsible since 1997 for distributing residents' parking permits on behalf of the County Council on the basis that they are made available free of charge to Oxford residents. Any proposal to alter this agreement requires the City's consent.

Cllr Stephen Tall, Lib Dem portfolio holder for Better Finances, comments:

"The Liberal Democrats have stated loud and clear our opposition to the Tory County Council's scheme to charge Oxford residents for their parking permits.

"The Tories on the County have made a right royal mess of this whole issue. First, they cooked-up a flawed and biased 'consultation' questionnaire, blatantly designed to skew the answers to get the result they wanted. Now they seem quite willing to over-rule the consultation if it doesn't go their way.

"The vast majority of residents I've talked to about the Tory scheme are utterly opposed. If what I'm hearing on the door-step is reflected in the results of the County's consultation, the Tories should sit up and take notice.

"If it comes to the Tories trying to ride roughshod over the opposition of Oxford's residents they should be in no doubt that the Liberal Democrats on the City Council will refuse to collaborate with them.

"Residents' parking zones are an integral part of both the City and County Councils' balanced transport policy, which aims to cut traffic congestion and pollution throughout Oxford. Everyone who lives, works or visits our city benefits from this policy, so it is only fair we all bear our share of the costs."

Notes to editors:

> The City Council has provided parking shop facilities on behalf of the County Council since 1997. These services have included the distribution of a number of different types of parking permits, including residents' permits.

> There are currently no arrangements between the Councils in respect of the charges the Tory County Council wants to implement.

> If the Tory Cabinet votes to introduce charges for residents' permits, and request the City to collect these charges, the City Council is under no obligation to meet this request.

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