3rd January 2009

The Greens today slammed Labour's decision to increase car parking charges disproportionately throughout the City leading to increases of close to 40% in Gloucester Green and some other car parks in the City Centre.

In December, the Greens sided with Labour to push through a 15% increase in parking charges to help plug a large budget deficit. The LibDems tried to unsuccessfully amend this to 8% with no corresponding savings to make up the difference.

Says Green Group Leader Craig Simmons; "The 15% rise should be applied evenly across the City to spread the burden and to avoid some businesses suffering more than others from a drop in trade."