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Workers' anger at parking charge Union enters city parking debate
(20 minutes later)
People who use voucher parking in Cardiff city centre have reacted angrily to proposals to replace it with pay-and-display meters. A public service union has criticised plans to replace voucher parking in Cardiff city centre with more costly pay-and-display meters.
Cardiff council wants to introduce the new system in October but there is anger that the cost of the parking will also increase with the change. The PCS Union said some members could not afford £5 for all-day parking to go to work.
In some cases all day parking will double from £2.40 to £5. In some cases all day parking costs will double from £2.40 to £5.
Cardiff council wants to introduce the new system in October. It said one aim was to encourage more commuters to use public transport, cycles and to walk.
It comes as several NCP car parks in the city centre were criticised for a similar price increase.It comes as several NCP car parks in the city centre were criticised for a similar price increase.
The decision by the car parking firm to increase parking prices prompted Jonathan Evans MEP to call for the office of Fair Trading to investigate the firm.The decision by the car parking firm to increase parking prices prompted Jonathan Evans MEP to call for the office of Fair Trading to investigate the firm.
But now unions are demanding that Cardiff Council should also be investigated for their decision to charge more for parking in the city centre.But now unions are demanding that Cardiff Council should also be investigated for their decision to charge more for parking in the city centre.
Some cannot afford £5 a day for parking to go to work Owen Dodd, PCSSome cannot afford £5 a day for parking to go to work Owen Dodd, PCS
The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union, which represents civil servants, said the move to increase parking prices should be delayed until adequate park-and-ride and other public transport facilities were established.The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union, which represents civil servants, said the move to increase parking prices should be delayed until adequate park-and-ride and other public transport facilities were established.
Owen Dodd from the union said: "These changes will affect people.Owen Dodd from the union said: "These changes will affect people.
"Some cannot afford £5 a day for parking to go to work and may have to give up their jobs."Some cannot afford £5 a day for parking to go to work and may have to give up their jobs.
"The council needs to put the adequate infrastructure in place - like park and ride schemes - before they do this, because there is no real alternative for people at the moment."The council needs to put the adequate infrastructure in place - like park and ride schemes - before they do this, because there is no real alternative for people at the moment.
Controlled Parking ZonesControlled Parking Zones
"We find it alarming that so soon after the NCP decide to introduce huge increases that the council are planning to increase their charges in the same way.""We find it alarming that so soon after the NCP decide to introduce huge increases that the council are planning to increase their charges in the same way."
He said the union branch was planning to write to the Office of Fair Trading asking for the council's plans to be added to any inquiry into the cost of parking in Cardiff city centre.He said the union branch was planning to write to the Office of Fair Trading asking for the council's plans to be added to any inquiry into the cost of parking in Cardiff city centre.
Earlier this year, plans for Controlled Parking Zones (CPZ) in the city's central areas were scrapped following protests.Earlier this year, plans for Controlled Parking Zones (CPZ) in the city's central areas were scrapped following protests.
The council's website says its parking policy is to provide adequate parking to promote the city while also reducing car usage and promoting sustainable transport. Cardiff Council said the current voucher system was less convenient than pay and display and promoted long stay parking by commuters, at a cost of 24p an hour.
Cardiff Council has been asked to respond. "This is contrary to the council's policy of encouraging as many people as possible to adopt more sustainable means of transport," said a spokesman.
It wants commuters to car share, switch to public transport, walking or cycling, saying it was "the key" to solving Cardiff's transport problems.
The council also wants a simpler payment system and to increase the availability of short-stay parking for shoppers and visitors.