Workplace Parking Levy 'can raise money for councils'

Until now the idea of a Workplace Parking Levy, which is being pioneered in Nottingham, was seen by ministers as purely a means of dealing with urban gridlock.
But tomorrow it will be put forward as a source of income at a conference due to be attended by John Healey, the local government minister.
Mr Healey and his officials will join more than 60 town hall officials in London to discuss “generating new revenue streams”. Delegates will hear a presentation of the Nottingham scheme, which will eventually see employers charged £350 a year for each of their parking spaces, which they could to pass on to staff.
The scheme is highlighted as a way of raising money for other transport projects in a report by the Core Cities Group, which represents Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol, Leeds, Liverpool, Newcastle and Sheffield.
It notes “The business case for the introduction of WPL in Nottingham proposes a level of charge that generates annual income of around £10.8million by 2014.”
Chris Murray, director of the group, said: “I am sure [the levy] will be considered in other cities. But there are downsides, such as whether it would be accepted by the local business community.”

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