Hitchin Branch

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Massive rise in parking costs

11 February 2007 North Herts council is to increase the charge for residents' parking permits by 33% to £52, despite admitting that the permits are not good value for money. The council claims it costs an amazing £112 to issue every permit. Lib Dem Councillor Lawrence Oliver said, "It is difficult to see how the council can possibly justify spending £112 on issuing each resident's parking permit. I suggested that, rather than increase the price to residents, the council should be looking at ways to cut the costs of running the scheme. Incredibly the Conservative councillor responsible for the scheme told us that to do this would be "ludicrous". "He went on to admit that parking permits 'are not necessarily good value for money', so he clearly recognises that the council is ripping people off, but the Conservatives obviously don't regard this as a