18/2/2010 - Council drops parking charges in favour of repairing flood-damaged bridges

County councillors have today agreed a budget for 2010/11 which drops proposals to introduce on-street parking charges so that the money that would have been spent on introducing the charging scheme can instead be spent on repairing vital footbridges in Workington and Cockermouth.

The budget agreed today at a Full Council meeting in Kendal also sets the rise in the county council's share of council tax at just 1.9% - the lowest ever level since council tax was introduced and an increase of just 6p a day on a Band D property.

Funds set aside in 2010/11 to pay for the work needed to introduce on-street parking charges will now be diverted to repairing flood-damaged footbridges, starting with Navvies Bridge in Workington and Memorial Gardens footbridge (also known as Miller's Bridge) in Cockermouth.

These two footbridges have been identified as the most pressing priority as discussions continue with central Government on how to pay for the overall damage to footbridges and rights of way in the county (these costs aren't covered by the government's emergency capital highway maintenance funding which will pay for a large part of repairing or replacing road bridges and installing temporary ones, as well as covering the flood damage to roads and highways).

By releasing the money now, it means work to reopen Navvies Bridge and Memorial Gardens footbridge can start more quickly. Barker's Crossing, the temporary footbridge built in Workington by the army in the immediate aftermath of the floods, will remain in place until Navvies Bridge is open again, thereby ensuring additional pedestrian access to and from the town centre. Business cases for the remaining footbridges will then be brought to Cabinet for approval.

The decision is a further boost to the £12.2m which had already been set aside in the draft budget to help foot the bill for the damage done to bridges, roads and other county council-owned assets including the Port of Workington and Cockermouth library.

Cllr Stewart Young, Cumbria County Council’s Deputy Leader and cabinet member responsible for resources, said:

"It makes sense to focus our resources and our efforts on the immediate priority of getting our infrastructure back up and running. The money saved by not introducing car parking charges will be reinvested into a programme of work on flood damaged footbridges, speeding up the replacement and repair programme.

"This has been one of the most challenging budgets the council has had to produce. We have had to respond to some of the worst weather conditions Cumbria has ever seen whilst still ensuring sufficient funding for our vital services. 

"We have also had to ensure that we do not impose an unacceptably high council tax increase at a time when the county is emerging from recession and many families are struggling financially. 

"This is a budget for recovery which helps to rebuild Cumbria, whilst protecting our services and investing in our future."

ENDS

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