Keswick businesses are calling on the town’s trio of Allerdale councillors to back local opinion over controversial parking charge increases or resign.

The Business Improvement District (BID) says it has learnt that only one of Keswick’s three councillors, who represent the town on Allerdale Borough Council, was present for the vote regarding the parking charges.

Ron Munby who was present and is the Allerdale parking services portfolio holder, “inexplicably” voted for the proposed increases.

In a statement, BIDs said: “It is difficult to understand why only one member was present for such a critical vote and the only member who was present seems to be acting against the very people who elected him.

“The proposed price increases are unrealistic particularly the 175% rise in the parking permit which will only serve to penalise the employers and employees of Keswick. We don’t believe that it is realistic to expect prices to stay the same, but a staggered increase is surely the way forward.

“There is a meeting to ratify this decision in November and we believe that should the councillors fail to represent the view of the electorate then their positions would become untenable and therefore they will be forced to resign.”

Already Keswick Town Council has advised locals to “shout loud and hard” in protest at the price hikes which could see  parking for visitors go up by 30 per cent and season tickets rise from £120 to £330.

Town centre businesses say the charges, which will bring the town into line with South Lakeland, are likely to deter tourists and add to pressures on off-street parking.

The increases are part the Borough Council’s bid to save £3.5 million and are due to be ratified by the full council on November 18th.

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