Council to charge residents to park on their own drives.
Brockhampton District Council have unveiled controversial plans to effectively charge residents to park on their own drives or even in their garages. The scheme will operate from next Wednesday.
Council Chief Executive Danny Harris explained
“Strictly speaking we can’t actually (yet) charge you to park on your own property. But if getting to your property requires you to drive across one of our pavements then you will now need a “pavement passage permit” (PPP). Road tax covers you for roads it makes no mention of pavements which you should not be driving on or over. Pavement maintenance costs are substantial and if you want to continue driving over them you will need a residents’ PPP priced at £575 p.a. Non-residents visiting your property will need to purchase a day pass for £45. Given that residents without a private drive must already pay £695 a year for an on-street parking permit this is really a very equitable solution. My officers have produced a very helpful infographic (see attached image) to explain in clear and simple terms how PPP will operate within Brockhampton from next Wednesday”
Refuse to pay and you might return home one day to find the pavement outside your property has been replaced by a 3-foot-deep trench.”
Quizzed on whether the PPP would still apply where there is no pavement between the drive and the road Mr Harris responded
“Believe me we are working hard on that one. Generally, there will be a bit of grass or a broken kerb or something that we can charge you to cross”
Residents have formed an action group to oppose the PPP scheme. Spokesperson said Richard Smith said
“This is outrageous. We didn’t vote for this. Not sure what I did vote for – I think the Tories said something about some new swings for the kids’ playground. The council are charging us to use our own property- a bit like council tax when you think about it! If the council are strapped for cash perhaps they should look at reducing Mr Harris’s £462,000 p.a salary.