Free parking for city residents

People living in Carlisle will not be charged for parking permits, although city parking charges and parking fines are set to rise.

Cumbria County Council allows district authorities to levy a charge for permits, but Carlisle City Council has decided not to do so.

Parking schemes operated by the city council need to be self-financing.

So car park charges will rise from next April, and approval is being sought to raise parking fines by £10.

In addition, the county council's social services unit, which rents space in the civic centre, would be charged for parking.

The new parking fines would be £60, or £30 if paid within 14 days, and are in line with other countywide district authority fines.

Councillor Ray Bloxham, said: "The executive spent a long time deliberating the options.

"I believe the proposals we've chosen today are the best for local residents and the local economy."