Last updated at 20:02, Thursday, 12 July 2012

Only 27 people have taken up Allerdale council’s offer of lower priced car parking permits.

The council agreed in April that workers in Cockermouth and Keswick who earned less than £13,000 a year would be offered cut-price car parking permits.

The six-month pilot scheme offers workers an annual permit for £140 instead of the normal £290. It could be used in the Sullart Street and Wakefield Road car parks in Cockermouth, and the Otley Road and Central car parks in Keswick.

The towns were chosen for the trial because they had more low-paid seasonal workers.

Anyone wishing to purchase a discounted permit had to provide proof of their income by taking in a P60.

At a meeting of Allerdale council’s scrutiny committee on Friday, members heard that 27 people had taken advantage of the scheme.

Chris Rolle, Allerdale council property manager said: “Some people have taken advantage of it, but the take-up has been quite low.

“Some people might not have met the criteria, or some may not work in the target area.”

Mr Rolle said the council had not set out with a target of how many people they expected to take up the scheme.

He added that Cockermouth Chamber of Trade said footfall in the town had increased since the “free after three” parking scheme was introduced, where people can park for free in the Wakefield Road car park after 3pm.

It was hoped that the cheaper priced permits would have the same effect.

But Mr Rolle said fewer people seemed to be using the car parks because of the economic situation and weather, and the car parks were costing the council money.

Councillor Trevor Fee said that some people had not taken up the offer yet because it was aimed at seasonal workers, and that some people had not finished school or university yet. He also asked if it could be tested in Workington.

At a meeting in March it was said that if the scheme was a success the council would investigate rolling it out to other towns.

First published at 19:25, Thursday, 12 July 2012
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk