Lib Dems slam huge price increase for Parking Permits

Surrey Liberal Democrats have slammed the Conservative-led County Council's plan for a massive increase in the cost of residents' on-street Parking Permits.

Surrey County Council have decided that there will be a flat rate across the county of £50 for the first car, and £75 for the second (but £80 in Guildford). Daily permits will cost £2 and replacement permits will cost £15. Currently the price of parking permits in Epsom and Ewell is £5 so residents will have to pay a a mind-numbing 10-fold increase, and the price in Woking is £10, so residents there face an eye-watering 5-fold increase.

Affected residents all across Surrey will shortly find traffic regulation orders hanging from lamp posts telling them how to object.

Will Forster, Lib Dem county councillor for South Woking, said "The decision to increase the cost of parking permits by such a large percentage is in itself appalling - but the way the decision was made was wrong. It was decided solely by the Conservative Cabinet Member for Transport, not even the whole Cabinet let alone the whole Council. The only consultation was just with the Chairs of Surrey's Local Committees and the Chair of Surrey's Transport Select Committee. It wasn't discussed whether the increase is appropriate for each local area. So what is the point in having a Transport Select Committee full of people who know about Transport, if they aren't asked about a transport matter."

"This doesn't do much for the Conservatives' so-called priorities of fairness and localism!", he added.