Conservatives cost you more for car parking than Lib Dems!

11.45.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 10th Jul 2008

The effect of the decision made by County Conservative Cllr. Bob Seery to increase car parking charges for on-street car parking in Northampton from 80p per hour to £1 per hour will mean that it will be cheaper to park in the car parks provided by the Liberal Democrat run Borough Council (which will remain at their present price structure) than it will be to park on a street parking meter bay.

Lim Dem Councillor Brendan Glynane

Brendan Glynane, (Liberal Democrat - Northampton Delapre) says: "I find it very disappointing as a County Councillor as well as a Borough Councillor, that the County Conservative Cabinet Member is unable to work with the Borough Council to have a joint parking policy. At a time when Town Centres are under threat from out of town shopping areas with free parking, and in direct competition with shopping centres such as Milton Keynes, the Conservatives have hiked up the cost of parking on street in Northampton by 25%. These are the sorts of spaces that the short term shopper wants to use for a quick visit to the shops. I would like to remind everyone that while the Conservatives are increasing parking charges, the Liberal Democrats on the Borough Council are freezing their charges and have introduced a reduced flat fee of 80p for the day on Sundays. So make sure you use the Borough's car parks."