Garage claims £67k spend on parking after council pulls permits

A garage owner claims he is spending some £67,000 per year on staff and customer parking after the local council barred small businesses from using parking permits.

T&H Motor Services’ Paul Horn says the move, which saw the permits – which are mainly for residential use – move to a digital-only form in March, “threatens our existence”, adding that it is “undermining our contribution to the county’s economic growth”.

However, the Warwickshire County Council said it moved the permits online due to “high levels of misuse”, which closed off a minor loophole that allowed non-residents to apply for permits as part of “informal arrangement” between the council and local firms.

He has now called on Warwickshire County Council, through a Change.Org page, to either go back on its decision and reinstate the permits for business use, or bring in specific business parking permits. The page has so far received 525 signatures.

Writing on that petition page, he said: “Business parking permits aren’t a luxury; they’re a necessity that enables small-scale businesses in Warwickshire to provide quality service without the burden of disproportionate expenses.

“Therefore, we urge Warwickshire County Council to reinstate these permits and provide a suitable solution that supports the lifeblood of our local economy.”

In response, a Warwickshire County Council spokesperson told Warwickshire World: “Following several years of public complaints regarding high levels of misuse across the county, a new digital service was introduced to replace the outdated paper-based system.

“Historically, informal arrangements in various towns allowed non-residents to access the residents’ parking scheme, affecting space availability.

“The transition to the digital system has resolved many of these issues. Consequently, some organisations and businesses are now unable to obtain resident permits.

“The council acknowledges the impact this has had and will continue to review the situation. If deemed necessary, we may seek public consultation on these matters.”