Work parking space charges under attack
* Workers could pay 350 a year to park * Protesters warn charging could go nationwide * Chamber of Commerce hits out...
The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) is backing a campaign to stop local councils charging employers for providing parking spaces.
Nottingham City Council is currently awaiting approval from the Department for Transport to impose a Workplace Parking Levy (WPL). Under the scheme, any employer that provides more than 10 workplace parking spaces would be charged 185 per space per year, rising to 350 in four years.
The CBI has backed the STOP the Workplace Parking Levy campaign amid fears that if the Nottingham scheme gets the go-ahead it will be spread nationwide.
The Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce has also attacked the plan. Chief executive George Cowcher said: 'Its clear that a precedent might be set and, if it is, businesses across the country will have to dig deep in their pockets to pay the levy.
'Nottinghams so-called blueprint for future transport income generation will cost jobs and it will force businesses to rethink their situations. Its a tax on jobs and competitiveness.'
