Parking fee increase proposals a blatant tax-grab at the expense of least well-off residents

• CAMDEN’S latest deeply cynical parking fee increase proposals take the concept of regressive taxation of the least well-off car users and visitors in the borough to a whole new level in these times of a cost-of-living crisis.

The increases are above the current Consumer Prices Index of 6.7 per cent / Retail Prices Index of 9.1 per cent and in some cases amount to an increase in costs by up to 93 per cent even for electric cars; proving this has nothing to do with the environment and is just a blatant tax-grab at the expense of its least well-off residents.

The proposals are particularly egregious for visitors’ permits, because of the hugely increased costs, as well as the increases in the surrounding complexity, and the fact that customers of tradespeople have no control or influence over the types of vehicle that will be parked outside their dwelling with the engine off.

The proposals potentially affect anyone who at any time needs to pay for tradespeople or carers to visit and work, even if they themselves have no car.

The final insult to the less digitally literate is the proposed scrapping of the simple scratch-card permits. In the brave new world of this complex scheme, if one wants to secure an e-permit for a visiting tradesperson, not only will one have to provide the registration number but also the level of CO2 emissions, precise date of first registration, and whether diesel, petrol or electric. A wholly unnecessary level of complexity for non-motorists to negotiate.

A typical tradesperson’s van of four to five years of age is currently charged a flat daily rate of £8.79. In these new proposals the same vehicle will be charged an extra £4.92 (a 55 per cent increase to £13.71 per day) if it is newer than September 2019.

If older it will be charged an extra £6.86 on top (so a 145 per cent increase in total to £20.57 a day). This is a tax on tradespeople’s vehicles but will effectively be paid by the end-customer on top of the work actually done while the vehicle is just parked-up.

If you object to this blatant tax-grab at the expense of the poorer motorist and of anyone who has tradespeople that come in a van, send your objections by email to: CleanerFairerParking@camden.gov.uk as well as completing the so-called “consultation” being run by Camden.

Sadly this is simply another cynical exercise in going through the motions, that does not even allow for a direct objection to the entire set of complex proposals to be registered!

ERIC PEEL, NW6