Why does the Tories’ new parking law only apply to council-run car parks?

There have been some pretty desperate pre-election pledges made over the years but Eric Pickles’ latest offering on council car parking charges is among the most pathetic I can remember.

I don’t fundamentally disagree with the point that people could be given a few minutes’ grace if they briefly overstay in a parking space. You could argue the merits for or against that argument all day and it’s not something I’m going to get hot under the collar about. But where I do take exception is to Mr Pickles’ incredibly disingenuous claim that he’s come up with this policy in order to help motorists from being used as a “cash cow”. Oh please. That explanation is about as plausible as Eric himself being asked to model Smart cars.

If the Tory Secretary of State seriously thought one of society’s priorities was relaxing the rules on the issuing of car park fines, he’d come up with some legislation to properly address it. He might make it law that it is illegal for the operator of any car park where charges are applied to issue a fine unless the motorist is more than 10 minutes late.

But Eric’s not suggesting that. No, surprise surprise, it’s only council-run car parks which he says this new law will apply to.

Why? What makes it any more likely that a motorist will have a good reason for overstaying in a council-run car park than they would in one which is operated privately? Is he seriously saying that if you’re one minute late to, say, an NCP car park then that’s all your fault, but if you’re nine minutes late to a council-run one then it’s not?

It’s absolute garbage, and is yet another example of Mr Pickles doing everything he can to undermine local authorities, while trying to sneak a few more votes before a General Election. The Tories have a track record of making silly pledges before elections – perhaps an offer of a few extra quid in your pocket here or a saving there. But Eric Pickles is offering up someone else’s cash – money that should go to your council – and then complaining when local authorities are forced to increase Council Tax.

He accuses councils of using car parking fines as a “cash cow” but somehow doesn’t extend the same allegation to privately-run car parks (which, incidentally, I understood often levy far higher charges that their publicly-operated competitors).

It’s classic Tory hypocrisy, and yet another indication that this Government has completely run out of steam and will grasp at absolutely anything in a bid to steal a few more votes.