Relief as free parking stays

By Emma Brennan Monday, January 30, 2012
9:03 AM

SHORT-stay parking in Sudbury and Hadleigh will remain free, after councillors backed alternative revenue-raising measures for the next financial year.

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Babergh district councillors this week voted to accept revised budget proposals, in a bid to meet next year’s £1.3million budget deficit. The authority needs to find £3.5m of savings over the next three years.

Although short-stay parking charges will not be introduced, long-stay fees will rise from £1.50 to £2 a day. Another move, which did not prove popular with all councillors at Thursday’s budget meeting, is a 3.5% increase in council tax.

Despite the increase being sanctioned, John Sayers was one of four councillors who registered their disapproval. He said: “Several of us feel strongly that there are other ways of saving money and that it’s not the best time to put the rates up.”

“I think it is wrong to add to the hardship of people in this sort of economic climate, where even a small increase can hit hard.”

But Sudbury councillor Simon Barrett said it was the “best and fairest” outcome in terms of distributing the cost.

He added: “We didn’t want to put the rates up, but when you balance it all up, Babergh has the second-lowest council tax in Suffolk after Forest Heath, even with the increase, which for a band D property amounts to not much more than £4 a year.”

Sudbury deputy town clerk Jacqui Howells said the council was happy that shoppers in the town would still be able to park for free for up to three hours, adding: “We are keen for the short-stay parking to remain free to encourage business into Sudbury.”

Other measures agreed in the budget were the closure, or transfer to parish councils, of public toilets which could save up to £40,000. Part of the Government’s New Homes bonus allocation will also help plug the deficit.

But keeping free parking was the most popular measure, with Sudbury mayor Anthony Platt concluding: “I have written to Babergh on behalf of everyone in Sudbury to say how relieved and delighted we are they have not introduced fees for short-term parking.”

The budget will have to be formally approved on February 9.