The Tories and Labour say they will not support it (Image: Getty Images)

Labour and the Conservatives have opposed a fresh five-year plan set by the Green-led Bristol City Council because it promises to impose a workplace parking levy. Bristol Live readers can see pros and cons to the idea.

The opposition councillors argued they couldn’t back the strategy due to its proposal to charge employers who currently offer free parking at work, with the Tories also concerned that the plan suggested expanding the Clean Air Zone.

Conservative group chief Cllr Mark Weston welcomed other aspects, such as growing and safeguarding green spaces and enhancing natural land, but he remarked that the real test would come from the Labour government’s promise to build more homes and meet lofty housing targets, which might put development pressure on open spaces.

In an updated “corporate strategy” – the council’s primary guiding document – the Green leadership stated: “We will prioritise changing some of the major roads in the city to make it easier, safer and more attractive for people to use public transport and to walk, wheel or cycle. We will prioritise introducing a workplace parking levy to fund further improvements to public transport and active travel. We will use some of the income generated from the Clean Air Zone to fund supported bus services for areas with less reliable transport options.”

At the meeting on Tuesday, May 13, Cllr Rob Logan (Labour, Filwood) stated: “We were expecting to support it. The reason we’re not going to is that it smuggles within it a specific commitment to a workplace parking levy.”

In response to Bristol Live’s story, commenter BS8GR8 said: “If you don’t have a car you have to PAY to get into Bristol by Bus, Taxi or Train. If you have a car and drive into Bristol for work and your employer does not have a car park, or it is too small or it is reserved for management only you have to PAY to use a car park and the charges are extortionate.

“If you are fortunate enough not to have to pay to park at work currently you are very privileged but it is your Employer who will pay the levy, they may try to pass on a proportion of the fee to the employee but very unlikely. So Labour and the Tories essentially support privilege for the few.

“As far as the clean air zones are concerned- who would not want to breathe in clean air? Where it has been implemented air pollution levels are down significantly – and hospital admissions for breathing related problems such as childhood asthma in Bristol are down since it was introduced. The income from the CAZ is being used to re-invest in public transport, especially buses. This should mean that fewer people need to drive into Bristol to work and hence the car park levy should apply to fewer people / companies.”

Berklicker replies: “All the bus lanes around Bristol still have a lack of buses using them and more congestion caused by them. The one on Redcliff hill is rarely used, the Cumberland road bus gate is for one or maybe 2 services, the bus lanes on Church Road are completely useless and barely used, the clean air zone has just moved the dirty air, it’s not working is it?”

Robofbristol thinks: “The Greens and Liberals are so myopic that they don’t seem to understand the effects of “just one more tax on business.” Taxing workspace parking in Bristol will be a disincentive for new businesses to set up in the city. One of the comments refers to the “privilege” of people with free work space parking, which gives an indication of the motivation for such a “dog in the manger” move.”

Bishopbenj writes: “I might support a workplace parking levy if there are no exceptions except for registered disabled. I can’t understand why all layers of government feel the need to interfere in so many areas of life?”

Anil Herat reflects: “Seems a wimpish stand from the Tories and Labour. This is hardly a new idea. I worked at Bath University for many years and they always charged staff for parking. It seemed reasonable to me there were buses running to and from it practically 24 hours a day.

“If someone didn’t want to use them, then that was their decision, but it meant they had to pay for parking. I think the charge was based on earnings, but it was still less than an annual bus pass for most people. Bus fares were neither free, reduced or subsidised, although both companies that ran services at the time had special offers. Why should car drivers get free parking?”

Alex Edgar disagrees: “Until you have an efficient mass transit system like London, a parking levy is not suitable, Bristol is not London.”

Bristollivefanaccount suggests: “We should have a city centre employee tax. If you work inside the centre, then you pay £15 a day.”

Do you agree with the parking levy? Will it encourage more people to use public transport? Have your say in our comments section.