Yesterday Market ward councillors Sarah Whitebread and Colin Rosenstiel attended the County Council Cabinet meeting, where a vote was held on the increase in residents parking charges across the city.

Three County Councillors from the city – Cllr Whitebread, Nichola Harrison (Petersfield) and Tariq Sadiq (Coleridge) spoke against the rises.  The point was made that by using the on street parking account to pay for other transport measures, the charge had changed from essentially a charge for a service to a tax.

Cllr Whitebread also spoke in support of Market residents in particular, who are being hit by a hike from £50 per year to £81.  At the Area Join Traffic Committee last year local councillors suggested that the cost increases were spread more evenly, so Market residents wouldn’t be so badly hit.  Cllr Whitebread made this case again yesterday, but her points were not addressed by the ruling Conservative group (none of whom incidentally live in Cambridge).

Cllr Whitebread commented “These rises are incredibly steep and unfair on residents, especially given the service they are receiving is if anything getting worse rather than better.  I was amazed that the County’s Cabinet showed so little respect for the views of local residents.  There were over 40 objection letters and representations from three local councillors, but it made no difference.  The price hikes were nodded through, with an assurance from Council Leader Nick Clarke that they will continue to go up and up in future years.”