Car parking hike comes back to haunt Mid Sussex District Council

8.11.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 19th Oct 2009

New figures released by Mid Sussex District Council show a big shortfall in the income from car parking tickets issued in the district's car parks since prices were hiked up earlier this year - despite Lib Dem opposition warnings at the time that it was the wrong moment to be increasing charges. "It's time that the Tories put their hands up and admitted that they've made a massive error of judgement on this issue." says Burgess Hill councillor Heather Ross.

The unrealistic estimate for increased income from parking charges is one of the reasons Mid Sussex District Council is now facing a potential deficit of £1.4 million next year.

Yet at a time of public sector pay restraint the Conservatives have also pushed through big pay rises for the Council's Chief Executive despite warning that jobs are under threat if the deficit is to be resolved.

What are the Tories cutting and when? Graham Knight, Lib Dem leader on the District Council added: "Clearly there's a huge hole in the council's budget and we want answers on how the Tories are going to plug that gap."