The new proposed Workplace Parking Levy came to my attention early this evening. The Workplace Parking Levy (WPL) means employers will be liable for a tax on vehicles if they provide a parking space for them.

The exact wording that I have found is this…

Liable parking spaces would be those employers provide for their staff or certain types of business visitors.

So, where does that leave us courier and transport companies? With a bigger bill by the looks of things.

Back when the London Congestion Zone was being talked about and consulted with the couriers within the zone, the prediction was it would affect only a few businesses. It was actually 90%. It would have been more honest to say it the other way around. It didnt make the environment any better and it certainly didnt reduce congestion very much either.

Now, you may think to yourself… but couriers and transport companies don’t have lots of offices in town centres and this is being done to save the environment, (which is something I am all for) and public transport will be better…

What courier and transport companies have are offices and warehouses on the local industrial parks which are very poorly served by public transport. Many staff drive in and now, the companies are going to be hit by another tax with no discernible benefit to their business.

Will every industrial park in the UK now be served by public transport?

Nottingham council have a comprehensive page about it here

The Levy:

On each liable parking space the levy would be in the region of £185 per year starting in 2010 and rising to around £350 at the opening of NET Phase Two, with increases linked to inflation in future years.

100% discount:

It is proposed that there would be some employers who would receive a 100% discount from the levy. They would be City of Nottingham employers with 10 or less ‘liable’ spaces, the emergency services and staff at NHS run premises.

There is good news though, if you are a home based courier business and sleep where you work, you will be exempt.

Workplace Parking Levy Petition

Your thoughts?

Sarah

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