THE Conservative car parking strategy has the stated aim of assisting business in the city, yet residents pay Council Tax to the local authority, while business rates go direct to central Government. The council is thus choosing to subsidise business, ha

THE Conservative car parking strategy has the stated aim of assisting business in the city, yet residents pay Council Tax to the local authority, while business rates go direct to central Government.

The council is thus choosing to subsidise business, having the costs of the car parks borne by domestic council taxpayers, many of whom are not car owners.

I believe that these subsidies are in excess of £400,000 a year.

Many businesses provide their own car parking, and find it advantageous to do so.

Tesco is an obvious example, but there are others. Some are long established in the city and have chosen sites that allow for staff and some customer parking.

Some businesses provide minimal on-site parking but piggy-back on public provision, and are even being allowed permits as well.

Yet residents, who have chosen to locate in the city, are not to be offered the same advantages as businesses even though, as Council Tax payers, they are at least making some contribution towards the upkeep of the car parks.

IAN ALLEN, District Councillor (Haddenham ward)