Islington Council is encouraging local businesses to take advantage of its business parking permit schemes to avoid getting parking tickets.<br><br>The council is writing to all 15,000 businesses in the borough to highlight the two schemes now available to them. <br><br>In January 2005 the council introduced its “Universal Permission to Park” permit, specifically designed to remove the hassle of businesses repeatedly buying pay and display tickets in order to carry out site visits, make deliveries, collect goods or carry out works.<br><br>This permit costs £3,000 a year, less than £60 per week. The user can park in any pay and display, residents’, shared use or business bays anywhere in the borough. Being able to park in residential bays mean they are ideal for businesses having to make regular house calls such as plumbers, electricians and kitchen fitters. <br><br>Daily permission to park permits cost £15 and weekly and monthly permits are also available. They can be used in any vehicle – car, van, motorbike or lorry – making it particularly attractive for businesses with a fleet of vehicles.<br><br>Following zone reviews, the council has increased the number of parking bays available in the zones A and C because of this we have been able to introduce business permits to these areas as well.<br><br>For £600 a year, any business within most controlled parking zones (CPZ) can buy a permit and park in designated business bays in their particular zone – so long as they can prove that the vehicle is essential for the running of their business. The permits can be used by up to three vehicles, although only by one at any time, for the whole of the controlled parking hours. <br><br>For businesses that do not use a vehicle every day, a business permit is available for £10, which uses pre-paid vouchers when their vehicles need to park in business bays.<br><br>Councillor George Allan, executive member for customer focus says<br>“We are listening to businesses and are making parking as easy as possible for them. These permits are designed to help businesses carry on with their daily activities without parking distracting them. I hope businesses will take advantage of these permits.”<br><br>For more information people can contact Parking Services on 020 7527 1338 or apply for an application pack at Islington Parking Permits, PO Box 46106, London EC1B 1BR or fax 020 7527 6121.<br><br><br><br>Notes to editor: <br><br>The Universal Permission to Park allows the user to park anywhere in the borough provided there is no loading ban in place. This includes pay and display bays, residents’ bays and shared use bays. <br><br>Three vehicles can be registered on one Permission to Park provided they are registered to the same company or person <br><br>The Permission to Park can be provided pro-rata i.e. it could be purchased for more than one year. Similarly a business can purchase a permit with similar parking rights for short periods of time.
Page Last Updated: 17 December 2009