Residents' parking permit fees frozen, thanks for Lib Dems

The annual fee for residents' parking schemes in Gloucester has been frozen - thanks to the Liberal Democrats.

The Conservatives who run Gloucestershire County Council had planned to increase the annual fee by 3%, which follows on from an inflation-busting 23.6% hike over the last two years.

But as councillors at Shire Hall met to discuss the county council budget, the Liberal Democrats successfully moved an amendment to freeze the annual fees for residents' parking permits.

Residents pay a £61.80 annual fee for their first car and £123.60 for their second car.

The purpose of the resident parking permit zones is to ensure that urban streets with limited off-street parking are not congested with non-resident vehicles.

The areas in Gloucester affected include the city centre, parts of Kingsholm, streets near to the hospital and a few smaller zones in Westgate and Moreland wards.

George Barwood, from Westgate Liberal Democrats, said: "There are many people who live in the city centre and have to park their car on the highway.

"They will be pleased to see that the annual parking permit fees are to be frozen for the next year."

Angela Conder, from Kingsholm & Wotton Liberal Democrats, added: "I'm delighted that our Lib Dem county councillors were successful in moving an amendment to freeze the residents parking permits.

"Previously the Tories put them up by an inflation busting 23.6%."