Birmingham City Council leader John Clancy has ruled out the introduction of any form of congestion parking in the city. He spoke out after Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC) said they were opposed to any move to impose a parking levy that would cost employers thousands of pounds a year. The move followed reports that council officials were examining a scheme in Nottingham where every business employing more than 11 people has to pay £375 a year for each parking slot it has.
Stephanie Wall (pictured), GBCC senior policy and patron adviser, said: “This has come as a tremendous relief to businesses in Greater Birmingham. “The cost for all firms with more than 11 employees would have been prohibitive. Businesses are already struggling to cope with additional cost pressures from the recent introductions of Auto Enrolment and the National Living Wage.
“Businesses are still battling to maintain and increase turnover and need every advantage they can get. A parking levy would have been a charge too far, especially at a time when there is so much uncertainty around the outcome of the EU referendum, which is denting business confidence.”
Birmingham City Council officials were reported to be studying the impact of the workplace parking levy in Nottingham, which introduced a £375 annual charge four years ago.
It was understood that Cllr Victoria Quinn, who is chairman of the council’s transport policy committee, believed the Nottingham levy to be a “fantastic initiative” and was “very popular” in the East Midland city.
