Drivers will be charged to use the company’s free car parks under new UK law

COUNCILS have considered CHARGING drivers to use free company parking spaces. A cash-strapped council is considering charging motorists to use the company’s free car parks, it has emerged, in a further blow to motorists and drivers.

The workplace parking charge in Croydon, south London, would be imposed on businesses with 11 or more privately owned spaces. But Benjamin Elks, of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “Croydon should park this absurd policy.

“Bankrupt Croydon is struggling for cash through council tax hikes and now new charges for private companies. Instead of going out of business, they should cut back on wasteful spending if they want to fix their finances.”

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Croydon Council said: “The council is not committed to paying the workplace parking charge and it is not included in our current parking policy. Jason Perry, Chief Executive of Croydon, said: “We have updated our parking charges policy to make it fairer, simpler and more consistent in Croydon, while helping our high streets to thrive.

“Residents will benefit from free one-hour parking in all district centres, which we hope will encourage more visits to our local shops. The changes to our emission-based parking charges aim to bring Croydon more in line with the rest of London.

“The disproportionate 90% discount we were giving some drivers was not fair or sustainable. We’re still providing an incentive to choose less polluting vehicles, while making the system fairer for everyone.”

The updated parking charges are intended to encourage lower emission vehicles and help address air quality and public health targets. They are also intended to improve access to facilities to serve local shoppers and the economies of the district and local centres, the local authority says.

However, the new policy will allow shoppers to enjoy one hour of free parking in district and local centres, the council added.