In a speech to the Local Government Association, John Healey, the Local Government Minister, said that councils should raise parking rates to reduce congestion. His comments come as councils’ revenue from parking charges alone jumped by 14% in three years to reach £635 million in 2006-7.
He was supported by the Environmental Transport Association (ETA), which claimed that most British motorists were undercharged for parking their cars.
But Mr Frost said: "Mr Healey's comments go completely against his own Department's ambition to regenerate and attract people to urban centres. Charging more for parking will simply displace potential customers elsewhere where it costs less to shop.
"People rely on their cars so without improvements to public transport or a proper alternative to the motorcar, the real effect will be to drive customers away, reducing the viability of those businesses in town centres."
