Nottingham City Council will decide, at a meeting of its Full Council in May, whether to authorise a Workplace Parking Levy (WPL) in Nottingham, which would fund local transport improvements and reduce congestion.

Councillors, at the meeting on May 12, will consider the draft legal Order and Business Case for the WPL scheme, which officers have been developing further since a 12 week public and business consultation and five day Public Examination of the proposals took place in 2007. Councillors will be recommended to approve the WPL scheme and direct that the Order be made by the Council, which authorises the scheme and contains the legal framework within which the scheme will operate.

The Order will then need to be confirmed by the Secretary of State for Transport and then, if implemented, the WPL would see millions of pounds being invested each year in a range of public transport measures, including funding the local financial contribution to extend the NET tram system to serve Chilwell and Beeston via the QMC and Clifton via Wilford.

It is expected that the WPL scheme would start in April 2010. In the first year of the scheme £5.6 million would be raised by the WPL, rising to £11.3 million per annum in 2015. As well as the NET extension, the WPL could also fund:

• More Link bus services and the funding needed to continue to run the existing popular Link buses which serve areas not covered by commercial public transport operators  
• Transform Nottingham Station into a ‘Hub’ with improved connections to buses and trams and expanded passenger facilities – turning it into one of the top European transport interchanges
• Increased support and advice to businesses for travel planning and parking management.

If introduced, a WPL would see around 500 large employers being charged an annual fee for each of the parking spaces it provides for its staff. The cost of each space would initially be £185 in April 2010, rising with increments and inflation in the early years until 2015, while public transport improvements are rolled out. In future years the fee would increase with inflation only.

It is for businesses themselves to decide whether to pass on the charge to commuters and encourage them to think about using public transport instead. Smaller businesses, with 10 or less liable parking spaces, and the 125,000 people who already help tackle congestion every day by walking, cycling or using public transport will not have to pay – nor will shoppers, tourists, disabled drivers and people parking at fire, police and health premises.

Councillor Brian Parbutt, Portfolio Holder for Transport, Economic Development and Skills, said: “There is little disputing that everyone wants a city that’s easy to get around, a city that’s not a slave to ever worsening congestion and a city that’s taking steps to protect its environment. There is a readiness to take bold steps in leadership, in protecting the environment and in continuing to develop one of the most successful public transport networks in the country.

“WPL has been debated in depth through extensive consultation. All the issues were thoroughly explored at the Public Examination last October and the findings of the independent examiner have been considered and taken into account. Ultimately 68% of city residents who took part in the consultation support the WPL package and proposals to raise further funding for more trams, better buses and a modern train station.”

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