Brighton MP raises parking charges with council chief executive

Brighton Kemptown MP Simon Kirby has told the council’s chief executive that higher parking charges are hurting the city’s economy.

Mr Kirby raised the subject at a meeting with John Barradell, the chief executive of Brighton and Hove City Council, yesterday (Monday 14 May).

Afterwards the Conservative MP said: “Since the huge increases have been introduced I have received daily reports from residents and businesses concerned at the devastating impact the charges are having.

“I left the council in no doubt as to my feelings on this issue and repeated my calls to reverse this damaging increase.

“We rely heavily on the income from visitors and these increases are already hurting Brighton and Hove’s economy at a time when the council should be doing all it can to support local businesses who provide much-needed jobs in the city.

“I will continue to push the council on this issue.

“As well as increasing the parking charges, the Green administration has made no efforts to provide a corresponding improvement in public transport provision in the city to encourage people away from their cars.

“And it is not always appropriate for people to use public transport.”

He said that local groups such as the Tourism Alliance, Deans Business Club and Brighton Business Improvement District had all spoken of their concerns.

And he added that some seafront businesses reporting a drop of 50 per cent in their takings since the changes were introduced.

The Greens have promised to consult about a new reduced seafront rate but rises elsewhere would stay.

The Greens also said that they rationalised parking charges, even reducing them in a few places while raising them in the city centre where demand was highest.

They hope that it will help to stop the big queues for car parks between Churchill Square and the seafront.

Mr Kirby said that he had set up the www.brightonparkingmadness.co.uk website to get feedback from local people.

And he added that he would shortly be making further written representations to the council, drawing comments received from constituents to the attention of council officials.