Free parking for Wolverhampton council staff axed

All 60 ward councillors and nearly 500 staff have received letters detailing a raft of new fees that will apply to council run car parks from February.

The move will see some council workers fork out more than £900 a year for a season ticket to park on the Civic Centre car park.

It brings an end to the council's long-running free parking perk for staff and elected members.

Bosses say the pricing structure will 'encourage employees to park on the edges of the city centre', with cash from the scheme used to fund car park maintenance and security.

The new charges will be introduced following a consultation with staff and trade unions, although the scheme sparked a split among the council's cabinet, some of whom were against the plans.

Public health and wellbeing chief Councillor Sandra Samuels previously branded it 'disgusting'.

She said: "I have no issue with paying for parking, but this will really hit lower paid workers at the council. We have got financial problems that we are trying to address. The people we are squeezing are those that cannot afford to pay."

Wolverhampton council's city environment chief Councillor Steve Evans said: "At a time when the council is having to make unprecedented budget cuts due to central government reducing our funding, it is only right that councillors and employees make a contribution towards the cost of parking.

"Car parks are expensive to maintain and keep secure. We have put in place a price structure which encourages our employees to park on the edges of the city centre, which will hopefully free-up the car parks in the heart of the city for shoppers and visitors."

Councillors will have to pay £200 a year for a permit to park on the ceremonial car park, which will also allow parking on any council car park in the city when on council business.

Those requiring parking facilities less than six times a month will get a 25 per cent reduction.

Standard rate charges on the Civic Centre car park are levied at £907.20 a year or £252 per quarter.

St Peter's car park will cost £59 a month, with sites at both Falkland Street and Railway Street priced up at £40 a month. Charges will also apply at car parks in Peel Street, School Street, Church Lane and Oxford Street.

Discounted rates are available for part time staff and those on lower wages, as well as councillors and workers who meet business use criteria.