This is about fairness not about raising money.
Chief Minister Allan Bell said he was confident that the proposal to end free parking in central Douglas for Tynwald members and higher-paid public servants will win Tynwald support when it returns to the court next month for a combined vote.
Infrastructure Minister Phil Gawne’s motion failed to carry in Tynwald this week after six MLCs voted against it.
There has been widespread public criticism of those six and the six MHKs who opposed the measure. The dissenting dozen argued that the policy document was flawed, discriminatory and unfair.
Under the plans, charges for spaces in central Douglas would apply to all public servants including Tynwald members, the judiciary and Crown officers.
Essential users, volunteers, those working night shifts and staff at executive office grade or below will be exempt.
Sites which don’t predominately have office accommodation such as schools, dental practices and health centres will be exempted as will car parks not owned by or leased to the Manx government.
The charges would come in from April next year, starting at £192.50 a year but rising in phases to £770 a year by 2019.
The Chief Minister said: ‘This is not designed necessarily to be a fund-raiser - it’s to try to bring in a fairer system. There are many lower paid workers in Douglas who have to pay for their parking. This is an exercise in trying to bring balance and fairness into the system.’
He said it may be that further clarification will be needed as to which civil servants will have to pay for their parking. ‘It may well that there needs to be a clearer explanation as to which civil servants will be covered by this new system. We have to make sure the system is seen to be fair.’
The six MHKs who voted against the introduction of parking charges for Tynwald members and civil servants were Alfred Cannan, Graham Cregeen, Zac Hall, Bill Malarkey, David Quirk and Leonard Singer. The six MLCs were Michael Coleman, Geoff Corkish, David Cretney, Bill Henderson, Juan Turner and Tony Wild.
Minister Gawne’s motion will now return to Tynwald next month for a combined vote.
Mr Bell added: ‘I’m sure that when the vote is called there will be support for the Minister’s motion.’
In Tynwald this week, opponents of the proposal maintained they would be happy to pay but that they could not support a ‘flawed’ document.
Mr Gawne, however, accused his critics of putting up a smokescreen: ‘If you don’t want to pay, that’s fine. Just tell us you don’t want to pay. But be honest.’