Graham, Tom and Ian

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Lib Dems pledge to oppose residents’ parking “stealth tax”

by Lib Dem team on 27 May, 2016

Following widespread media coverage about councils using inflated residents’ parking permit charges as a way of increasing their income, Stockport’s Liberal Democrat Group have expressed concern that the new Labour Executive may choose to adopt a policy similar to Labour run Manchester City Council and force residents to pay more.

Speaking of these concerns Cllr Mark Hunter, Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader and shadow transport spokesperson said: “Under Liberal Democrat control, Stockport’s resident parking charges have been deliberately held at the cost of administering the scheme, making a charge of only £31 per car. According to recent figures, the national average is £64, so we have been charging less than half of that.

“Compare this with Labour run Manchester City Council, where some residents’ parking permits cost as much as £750 a year, nearly 12 times the national average and over 24 times the price of a permit in Stockport. This clearly amounts to a rip off to prop up the council’s coffers.

“Stockport Liberal Democrats will be keeping a close eye on these charges and we will campaign against any proposals by the new Labour administration to hike residents’ parking permit charges as a stealth tax to prop up their budget.”

   11 Comments

11 Responses

  1. Robert Cohen says:

    Is anyone surprised?

  2. John H says:

    +Do the traffic wardens who regularly park in the “Resident” bay on Chapel street pay these fees or are they exempt?

  3. Roy says:

    Don’t knock the Parking Wardens they do a good job in difficult circumstances l for one fully support them and would be delighted if they could spend more time in Cheadle

  4. Bruce says:

    Whilst you are doing comparisons here are the local council taxes for band D

    Trafford – Tory – 1350

    Manchester – Labour – 1440

    Stockport – 18 years LibDem – £1665.

    Nuff said

    • Iain Roberts says:

      Stockport has been more efficient than Trafford under Lib Dem leadership – we spend less per head than Trafford to deliver all the services residents rely on.

  5. Alan Gent says:

    Bruce, you’re forgetting – or omitting to mention- the extra subsidy that Trafford gets as a Tory council. If only we were all treated equally…

    • Halifaix says:

      Alan, So what you are saying if we want a bigger Government subsidy, and therefore Council Tax, we should all vote Conservative.

      OK you’ve convinced me

    • Bruce says:

      Alan – the Libdems were in power for 5 years and had the opportunity to increase Stockport’s allocation – but they totally ignored it.

    • John Hartley says:

      There’s also the issue of “you get what you pay for”.

      For example, Trafford recently closed its libraries at Bowfell and Davyhulme whilst, to the best of my knowledge (and a Google search) Stockport has not implemented any closures.

  6. Janine Carter says:

    What about the new stealth tax brought in by the Lib Dems last year – the adult social care precipt on all of all council tax bills – is this legal?

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