Car parks fee freeze bid to beat credit crunch
CAR parking and leisure charges may be frozen by Teignbridge Council next year in a bid to ease the financial strain of the credit crunch.
Council leader Alan Connett told members of the authority it should do what it can to help residents during the economic downturn.
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During his annual 'state of the district' address, he said the council was already doing a great deal to help both council tax payers and businesses during these difficult times, but it might be possible to do more.
He said: "We are looking at freezing car park charges for next year and also, if we can, charges in our leisure centres.
"We will be presenting final details to councillors for consideration in the new year."
The council predicts its car parking income will be around £120,000 less this year than expected.
In part, the downturn is attributed to the poor summer weather and the effects of the national concessionary bus fare scheme.
Cllr Connett said by freezing car parking charges, which normally go up by three per cent a year, residents may be encouraged to use car parks, bringing more business into Teignbridge town centres.
The council has also set up a Credit Crunch Commission to look at ways the council and other public service organisations could adapt to offer more help to residents at this 'difficult time'.
Cllr Connett explained: "Around 87 per cent of eligible small businesses in Teignbridge are receiving some form of relief on their business rates' and we are paying nearly all our bills within the required 30 days.
"This helps cash flow for small businesses and we will look to see if we can do more to assist.
"For householders, we have dramatically cut the time we take to pay benefits they are entitled to. We're now achieving an average of 22 days, down from 38 in 2005/2006. This is a really good improvement and it's actual days, not just working days."
The council is now waiting to hear what level of Government grant it will receive for next year.
2 Comments
by Wavy Davy, Kingsteignton
Monday, November 17 2008, 8:26PM
“Reduction in interest rates =lower mortgage repayments,
'man' on the street wins.
Bailing out banks=we all get to keep our homes,
'man' on the street wins,
Forcing fuel suppliers to cut costs= lower bills,
'man' on the street wins.
Emergency heating payments for pensioners = less pensioners in poverty,
'man' on the street wins
Devaluation of a strong pound means more exports, holidaymakers to the area and investment in the UK,
'man' on the street wins,
In a global crisis this is all seriously top stuff, good on you Gordon
However
Car parking price freeze= diversion from actually doing anything constructive-not so long ago it was free anyway, like it is in out of town shopping centres now. I wouldn't spend money in Teignbridge town centres anymore in no small part due to the parking expense (I already pay enough road tax thanks) and most of the shops that sell anything useful at competitive prices are not locally or even UK owned anyway...
Teignbridge DCC, here's an idea to push to central government..
Slap huge charges on council taxes on second home owners and the wealthy, demand for housing comes down the 'man' on the street all year around can afford to buy a house here and the less wealthy can have a reduction in council tax charges. Local people will be able more likely to spend money locally rather than loading up the RangeRover in Fulham Sainsbury's and bombing down to the weekend pad in Shaldon etc..”
by michael, teignmouth
Monday, November 17 2008, 11:29AM
“Parking frozen? Why such a short measure - all council parks should be free at all times to encourage town use and revenue to the council from traders who will otherwise go out out of business. Trading has been difficult before the financial crisis and probably is now almost impossible. Before our town centre are reduced to hollow unfriendly wastelands councils must reduce all barriers before they themselves find there is little left of the "fatted calf" to attack.”