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Council ends free 'park and pray' Council ends free 'park and pray'
(about 2 hours later)
A free parking concession for churchgoers that was described as "discriminatory to other faiths" has been removed by a Devon city council.A free parking concession for churchgoers that was described as "discriminatory to other faiths" has been removed by a Devon city council.
Two car parks located near churches in Plymouth were free on Sunday mornings.Two car parks located near churches in Plymouth were free on Sunday mornings.
A £1-an-hour charge has now been brought in as part of an overhaul of parking costs across the city.A £1-an-hour charge has now been brought in as part of an overhaul of parking costs across the city.
A council parking representative responding to a protest letter about the charges, said: "Dispensation is not given to other religions."A council parking representative responding to a protest letter about the charges, said: "Dispensation is not given to other religions."
They added: "The basis of your representation was rejected on the grounds that the current free parking on a Sunday morning is discriminatory to other faiths and religious praying days."They added: "The basis of your representation was rejected on the grounds that the current free parking on a Sunday morning is discriminatory to other faiths and religious praying days."
'Unforgiving''Unforgiving'
The Rev Nick McKinnel, rector of Plymouth's largest church, St Andrew's, said: "It does seem extraordinary to invoke other faiths as a reason to charge those who go to church." The Rev Nick McKinnel, rector of one of Plymouth's largest churches, St Andrew's, said: "It does seem extraordinary to invoke other faiths as a reason to charge those who go to church."
He said the council introduced the free parking concession in 1998 in recognition of the contribution churches make to the life of the city.He said the council introduced the free parking concession in 1998 in recognition of the contribution churches make to the life of the city.
I have been going to church for 50 years and I have never had to pay Mary Hooker, churchgoerI have been going to church for 50 years and I have never had to pay Mary Hooker, churchgoer
"For the scrutiny committee now to use other faiths as a way of withdrawing this concession seems pretty shabby."For the scrutiny committee now to use other faiths as a way of withdrawing this concession seems pretty shabby.
"The sort of spurious reasoning given on behalf of the city council betrays a total lack of understanding of the multi-faith agenda and serves only to divide communities.""The sort of spurious reasoning given on behalf of the city council betrays a total lack of understanding of the multi-faith agenda and serves only to divide communities."
Churchgoer Mary Hooker, 66, said: "It is rather unforgiving. I have been going to church for 50 years and I have never had to pay."Churchgoer Mary Hooker, 66, said: "It is rather unforgiving. I have been going to church for 50 years and I have never had to pay."
A council spokeswoman said the changes had been brought in line with Sunday charges at other car parks around the city.A council spokeswoman said the changes had been brought in line with Sunday charges at other car parks around the city.
"This was because it was felt that it was inappropriate to single out two particular churches for special treatment which is not given to anyone else," she said."This was because it was felt that it was inappropriate to single out two particular churches for special treatment which is not given to anyone else," she said.
The income from all of the city's Sunday charging revisions has been estimated at approximately £144,000.The income from all of the city's Sunday charging revisions has been estimated at approximately £144,000.