Exclusive By Julian Whittle Political editor

Last updated 08:04, Friday, 04 July 2008

The cost of parking a car in Carlisle city centre could rise to £15 or £20 a day if park and ride is introduced.

City centre charges could rise to £2.20 an hour

A Carlisle Renaissance study says charges will have to triple to persuade motorists to leave their cars on the edge of the city and travel in by bus.

It proposes that an hour in a city-centre car park, currently 80p, should cost £2.20.

Two hours, now £1.60, would rise to £4.30, three hours from £2.40 to £6.50 and four hours from £3.20 to £8.60. The price of an annual parking permit would increase from £672 to £1,800.

The report also proposes charging for on-street parking in the centre between 8am and 8pm at the same rates, with a maximum stay of two hours.

The findings outraged city and county councillors when they were tabled at a transport advisory group this week.

Dalston Liberal Democrat Trevor Allison predicted that such increases would drive shoppers away from Carlisle.

He said: “Increased fuel costs and punitive parking charges to underpin park and ride would have a serious impact on the city centre. It would be absolutely disastrous.”

And Labour’s Cyril Weber said: “No politician in his right mind is going to put charges up this amount. They would be voted out at the next election.

“The roads in Carlisle aren’t suited. It won’t work and it’s a waste of money.”

Cumbria County Council has long had plans for park and ride but has lacked the money to implement them.

Secure car parks at Morton, Rosehill and Kingstown would be served by frequent shuttle buses to the city centre.

The county’s transport policy manager, Jonathan Smith, told councillors that Carlisle Renaissance would put park and ride back on the agenda.

He said: “Park and ride at this stage clearly isn’t something that is required. The levels of traffic congestion and capacity of car parks in the city don’t warrant it.

“However, if developments take place along the lines proposed by the Renaissance project, the city is going to become a busier and bigger place.”

Even Stagecoach has doubts that park and ride is suitable for Carlisle. Operations manager Bob Cook told the advisory group that park and ride worked best where there were continuous bus lanes but the arterial roads in Carlisle were not wide enough to allow this.

The report on parking was prepared for the county council by Capita Symonds. It argues that Renaissance schemes to redevelop Rickergate and Viaduct Estate will create a shortfall of 2,000 parking spaces in the city centre.

Capita recommends that, rather than build more car parks in the centre, the council should opt for park and ride.

Its report says: “It is essential that parking on the periphery is significantly cheaper than the city centre to make this an attractive option.”

The report calls for staged increases in parking charges over several years.

“If costs are increased too rapidly,” it adds, “there is the effect of deterring parking in the city centre without providing a viable alternative.”

The maximum charge for parking all day is currently £4.80 in long-stay and £7.50 in short-stay car parks. These fees would rise to £15 and £20 respectively.

Capita Symonds has also produced reports on improving pedestrian and cycle routes, and bus services.

Its proposals include two £1m schemes to revamp the underpass at Hardwicke Circus and improve access to Town Dyke Orchard car park.