Business body reacts angrily to threat of parking levy
GREATER Birmingham Chambers of Commerce has opposed any moves to introduce a new parking levy on firms in Birmingham.
The chamber said adding extra costs to businesses at what was still a difficult time for the economy would not be in the best interests of firms in the city.
Cash strapped Birmingham City Council has been reviewing the impact a similar scheme in Nottingham, which introduced in Birmingham could cost employers hundreds of pounds a year.
Stephanie Wall, senior policy and patron adviser, said: “While the chambers of commerce understand that congestion is a problem in Greater Birmingham, we would not support the introduction of a parking levy, given it would create an additional cost to business.
“Also, there is no evidence to suggest that a levy fulfils its purpose of reducing congestion. Two years after the introduction of the workplace parking levy (WPL) in Nottingham, there was no evidence to demonstrate that traffic congestion had actually been reduced.
“The WPL has however raised a significant funding stream for the local authority, which would highlight that the WPL is simply yet another means of raising business tax.”
Under the scheme in Nottingham, employers who provide workplace parking places are required to apply for a WPL licence and, where applicable, pay a charge as part of the levy scheme.
The chamber said that while it welcomed efforts to reduce congestion, the business community had to be consulted on any plans for such a levy.
Similar schemes have been considered up and down the years, likewise a London-style congestion charge.
However, the likely impact of these on business and visitors to the city has so far prevented anything from ever being implemented.
The council is instead pinning its hopes on improvements to the local transport infrastructure such as the multi-million pound overhaul of New Street Station and the extension of the Midland Metro.
