PLANS to more than double the cost of some resident parking permits in Hull will be published later this month.
The proposed increase could see some people paying an extra £12.50 a year to park near their homes.
However, city council chiefs say the increased charges will only apply if residents vote in favour of retaining their own local controlled parking zone.
People living in parking zones outside the city centre currently pay £7.50 a year for a parking permit.
This allows them to park in streets otherwise subject to restricted parking enforcement.
The cost of permits has remained the same in Hull for several years and now lags well behind many similar-sized cities.
Under the new proposed charges, the annual fee will rise to £20 in some areas.
Due to get under way later this month, a consultation by the council will ask residents from the 28,000 affected households across the city to choose between retaining their zone or withdrawing it.
The council maintains no final decision will be made until consultation with residents has taken place and changes in fees will only be introduced where residents vote in favour of retaining their controlled parking zone.
Councillor Martin Mancey, the cabinet portfolio holder responsible for parking issues, said: "Officers recommended that the cost of permits should be increased to £33 to fully cover operating costs, but in my view an overnight increase of this magnitude is unacceptable.
"On the other hand, it is unreasonable for other, often less well-off, residents who do not require permits to fully subsidise the costs for those who do.
"I hope most residents, both permit holders and others, will see this proposal as a reasonable compromise, but the review will give residents their opportunity to have their say on the future of parking zones in their local area, ensuring that residents who wish to remain within a zone have preferential parking over non- residents.
"Once the feedback is collated, a final decision will then be made on the future of each zone."
Cllr Mancey said the proposed £20 charge for parking zones outside the city centre equated to less than 50p per week.
The review will not include residents who live in six parking zones close to the KC Stadium who will still be able to apply for free permits.
They were granted free permits when the stadium opened in 2002 because councillors felt it was unfair to penalise them for living close to such an exceptional new development.
A recent High Court ruling highlighted the fact that charges for on-street permit parking should not be operated by a local authority to make a profit.
However, the court ruled charges for permits should cover operating costs.
Council officers calculated a £33 charge was necessary to cover all operating costs within a controlled parking zone, together with additional income from parking tickets.
Zones running at a lossTHE controlled parking zone covering Morrill Street, Sherburn Street and Holland Street is typical of many in Hull.
It covers a neighbourhood built at a time when widespread vehicle ownership was never foreseen.
The zone is aimed at deterring long-term parking by shoppers, as well as those who work on nearby Holderness Road.
Covering a total of 243 households, there are currently 149 permit holders, who generate an income of £1,117 a year.
The average annual income from parking tickets issued in the three streets is more than £5,000.
However, the city council says the zone costs £11,815 to operate.
These costs include administration and enforcement staffing as well as signage and road markings.
As a result, the zone runs at a net loss of just over £5,500.
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