Firms may challenge parking levy

The levy would be introduced in 2010

A planned workplace parking levy in Nottingham could face a legal challenge, an organisation representing businesses has warned.

The city council formally approved the levy on Monday. The scheme will now be studied by the government before any final go-ahead is granted.

The council wants to start the 75p a day charge in 2010.

Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce said it might mount a legal challenge, perhaps a judicial review.

Academic agency Protocol is threatening to pull out of Nottingham because it claims the idea is not business-friendly.

Commuters targeted

George Cowcher, of Nottingham's chamber of commerce, said: "I'm sure businesses are going to take this matter extremely seriously and will be wanting to look at every aspect of it to see if it can be overturned. This is very bad news for Nottingham.

"Why Nottingham is almost transfixed by imposing this particular levy is beyond belief."

The city council said the workplace parking levy would actually target commuters, not shoppers, tourists, pensioners and people with children.

It said it would raise £5.6m in 2010 to help pay for public transport improvements to the tram network, the buses and Nottingham Station.

Last week, plans for congestion charging in the East Midlands were scrapped after city and councils from Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire disagreed on a way forward.

Nottingham city council said around 500 employers with 10 or more workplace parking spaces would be liable for the levy. Companies will have to decide whether to foot the bill themselves or pass charges on to their employees.