Overnight parking labelled 'a stealth tax'

OVERNIGHT parking is to become available at two car parks in Brentwood.

Brentwood Council is to introduce new permits at the Coptfold Road multi-storey car park and Westbury Road car park.

Weekend parking will also be available at Westbury Road, which is currently for permit holders working at local businesses.

New permits, costing £360 per year, would allow residents to use the facility between 6pm to 8am Monday to Friday and from 6pm on Fridays until 8am on Mondays.

At Coptfold Road, people using the car park overnight would have to remove their car by 8am the following morning from Monday to Friday, by 9am on Saturdays and by 10am on Sundays.

A permit to use the Coptfold Road facility overnight would cost £520 per year.

Weekend charges are also to be introduced at the town hall in Ingrave Road.

The south and north car parks will be open from 8am until 7pm Saturday and Sunday but will be operated on a pay and display basis to non permit holders.

Louise McKinlay, chairman of the council's highways panel, said: "Residents have asked for more secure overnight parking provision in the town.

"By opening up the multi-storey car park to permit holders, we will be providing a much requested service to residents and a valuable source of residents."

However, Liberal Democrat leader David Kendall called the new measures "a stealth tax".

Mr Kendall said: "The free parking in the town hall car parks attracted shoppers to the town and gave a boost to the local economy. To start charging now will be another kick in the teeth to many local retailers and businesses.

"We are also very concerned about how much residents are going to have to pay to use the car parks at night. In our view any charge should simply be sufficient to cover costs it should not be used as a money making scheme. The council is already facing falling sales of day time parking permits so it will be interesting to see how many residents are willing to stump up £520 per year to park at night."