The cost of parking permits and the borough’s free parking bays will remain largely unaltered as the council looks to update and increase some of its other parking charges.
Free parking will still be available for short periods in some town centres
The fee for a resident’s first parking permit will stay at £80 per year, with an option to buy a second permit for £126.
One change is that the council will no longer grant households a third car parking permit – though those residents who already hold three parking permits will be allowed to continue renewing them, at some cost: £305 per year. There are 55 households around the borough which have parking permits for three cars.
Short-stay free parking bays in 11 district centres across the borough will also be preserved under plans considered by the council’s traffic management committee last week.
“We are looking at reviewing parking fees in the borough while maintaining valued services, including free parking bays in the hearts of our communities to help local businesses,” Stuart King, the council cabinet member for transport, said.
Cllr King gets himself a parking ticket. Not that he needs one…
“The scheme also sets out how we could keep the cost of visitor permits and the cost of business permits low.”
According to King, “some parking charges may rise by a small amount in order to support businesses and ensure spaces are available in town centres”.
The committee recommendations suggest one-hour free-parking bays will remain as at present in South Norwood, Thornton Heath, Purley, Coulsdon, Beulah Hill, Cherry Orchard Road, Lower Addiscombe Road, Addiscombe, Brighton Road (South Croydon), Selsdon and Old Lodge Lane (Purley).
On-street parking charges in the Croydon cental parking zone, the snazzily titled CPZ, excluding the free spaces in Lower Addiscombe Road, Cherry Orchard Road and London Road between Sumner Road and Broad Green Avenue, would go up by 10p for every half hour.
On-street parking in the district CPZs would increase by the same rate and off-street parking across the borough will also cost 10p per hour more.
Any surplus in parking revenue accounts fund the borough’s contribution towards Freedom Passes. The Freedom Pass provides free travel for older and disabled Londoners on almost all public transport in London.
One thing to emerge as a result of the consideration of parking permits and charges is the councillor freebie of a free parking permit, usable across the borough when on council business.
Under the Tories, their cabinet member for transport, Phil Thomas, became known as “Two Permits”, as he somehow required the use of two private vehicles to conduct his public duties. Labour councillor King has just a single free council parking permit.
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