Tory-Green Alliance votes to keep parking clock price hike

Last week, the Liberal Democrats put forward an alternative budget at New Forest District Council which would have reduced the price of parking clocks for the first time ever.

Lib Dem Councillors voted against the massive hikes last year. At the time, the local Lib Dems proposed an inflation-only increase and the Lib Dem budget this year would have reduced the price to an inflation-only increase on last year's price. Therefore, correcting a mistake the Conservative administration made last year.

It would have saved people with a short stay clock - £8, a quarterly long-stay clock - £22, and people with an annual long-stay clock - £71.

No extra council tax was needed. It was all budgeted for and agreed with officers.

Sadly, Conservative Councillors voted it down with Green Councillors abstaining before both Conservative Councillors and the Green Party's leader voted for the Conservative budget which stuck with the higher price of parking clocks.

Commenting, Cllr Jack Davies, Liberal Democrat MP Candidate for New Forest West, said:

"This would have been the first ever cut in the price of the parking clock at a time when every penny counts for local families and businesses.

"Instead, the Conservatives and Green Party united to stop it happening. They're completely out-of-touch with the needs of local people."