Supermarkets’ ire over 20p fees rise
SUPERMARKET giant Sainsbury’s has heavily criticised plans by Harborough District Council to raise parking fees, it was revealed this week.
The firm raised concerns the 20p rise across all tariffs would penalise shoppers, council head of enforcement Norman Proudfoot told a meeting of the council’s executive on Monday.
The store currently refunds shoppers using the car park in Springfield Street 50p to cover their first two hours of parking.
Mr Proudfoot said Sainsbury’s raised further objections because under the new rule, they would have to give customers at least two coins to refund them the new two-hour fee of 70p.
Another, un-named supermarket had also raised concerns over the rise, he said.
However Cllr Colin Golding, who holds the enforcement portfolio on the executive, said the rises were necessary, adding that parking charges in Harborough would still be considerably cheaper than those in market towns of a similar size.
A report prepared for the meeting stated the rise could increase parking income for the council by £160,000, helping balance its budget.
Cllr Golding said: “I hear the concerns raised by the two local businesses but it’s impossible to please all of the people all of the time.
“It’s always going to be an emotive subject.”
The all-Conservative executive committee agreed on Monday to put the proposals forward to full council as well as introduce an annual review of the charges as part of the budget process.
Cllr Blake Pain told the meeting he had concerns the review would become an excuse to put charges up.
However Cllr Janette Ackerley said: “I think the annual review is right. Just by looking at it each year doesn’t mean charges will be increased each year.
“I see this as a fairly moderate increase.”
If agreed at full council, the new charges will come into force in April.
The cost of discounted parking permits are also set for an increase, with the price of an annual five day-a-week permit for a short stay car park up from £437 to £465.80.
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Weather for Harborough
Tuesday 22 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 12 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
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leec1976
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 03:38 PMThe increase in car parking is outrageous- it may help to balance the council's books.. surely if this was reduced more people would come into town and spend.. This has been discussed before in different area's.. I do think that was one of the suggestions that Mary Portas suggested..!!
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