Local Liberal Democrats are calling on Merton Council to scrap their plans to massively increase parking charges based on where you live.
Our analysis shows that the proposed new charges for residents parking permits will mainly affect areas without Labour councillors. The increases will raise an extra £1.4m a year, over £1m (71%) of which will be paid by people in Wimbledon, £172k from Raynes park but only £72k (5%) from the whole of Mitcham and Morden combined.
These parking charges have nothing to do with air quality - they are a tax on people who didn't vote Labour.
Labour Council bosses have failed to provide evidence that their plan to increase parking charges will reduce traffic and improve air quality. So the scheme looks like it’s purely to raise revenue, targeted at people who live in areas that don’t tend to elect Labour councillors.
We, the undersigned, call on Merton to scrap its plan to double parking charges in Wimbledon and Raynes Park. Any replacement scheme should be based on clear evidence that it will improve air quality, and not unproven assertions.
