Proposals to impose a workplace parking levy on businesses in Cambridge form part of a new transport strategy for the city, published this week.

 

Based on a similar scheme in Nottingham and subject to consultation with business, the proposal would see employers with multiple parking spaces charged an annual fee for each commuter parking space.

 

Workplace parking is one of eight measures identified in the strategy – which is part of the Greater Cambridge City Deal – to tackle gridlock in the city without the need for a congestion charge.

 

All funds raised by the levy would be used to encourage people to switch to other modes and to invest in better local transport to ease commuter trips.

 

However the plan is proving controversial. Motoring group the AA spokesman Luke Bosdet said: “This is essentially a tax on work. Employees can often only afford to live on the outskirts of a town or city and drive into work by car.

 

“To penalise businesses because that is the reality of travel for their employees is opportunistic. The proposal should be put to a local referendum like the congestion charge was in Manchester.”

 

The transport strategy will be considered at public meetings of both the Greater Cambridge City Deal executive board and joint assembly in June.

 

After details of the strategy were released the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough Enterprise Partnership’s representative on the City Deal executive board John Bridge stepped down from his position.

 

He said he could not support the proposals and added: “Following full publication we will be able to go into detail as to why I feel it is not the right strategy for the city, remembering that the aim of the City Deal is to drive economic success and enable growth to continue.”

 

Among the remaining seven measures identified to reduce traffic are investment in better public transport, new cycling and walking facilities and introduction of smart transport technology.

 

The city could also see a series of ‘virtual road closures’ on some main roads – during weekday peak periods – through which only buses, cyclists, taxis and emergency vehicles could travel.

 

Cambridge City Council leader and chair of the City Deal board Lewis Herbert said: “Congestion has to be tackled because it wastes so much travel time and threatens to choke off growth. The City Deal board is committed to taking decisive action to keep our city region moving – keeping it a place for people, not for traffic.”