Exeter could be the next city to have workplace parking levies introduced, following a proposal by the City Council.
The move, which echoes a similar scheme confirmed for Nottingham last year, is intended to help cut congestion and reduce carbon emissions.
John Rigby, director of economy and development at Exeter City Council, said there are 17,800 car park spaces at offices and industrial premises that are available for motorists at no charge.
“It is more effective to charge people who currently pay nothing to park, than to extract more money from those who pay parking charges already.”
He added: “Uncomfortable though it is, a pricing mechanism in the form of a workplace parking levy, is an effective means of managing demand – and thus, without that, congestion will continue.” Rigby was unable to confirm how money raised though the scheme would be spent, though reports suggest it would go into improving public transport, as is the case with Nottingham’s scheme.
Employees at companies based in Exeter including the Met Office, EDF Energy and South West Water could be affected.
The proposal, which will go before the authority’s executive committee this week, is the city council’s proposed contribution to Devon County Council’s Local Transport Plan for 2011-2016.
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