NCP doubles down after residents told to pay £2,200 a year to use car park next to their homes

The parking firm which has scrapped residents’ annual permit passes and so raised fees for them by around £1,000 a year has issued a statement following the row.

NCP, which operates a variety of car parks around the city centre, initially offered residents on the New Bailey Street estate an annual parking pass for £1,250 last year when they bought their flats in the Novella building. However, after one resident attempted to renew their pass, they found the deal had been scrapped — and the next-cheapest option was a season pass for £2,200.

Two residents hit by the hike are Aaron Eastwood, 33, and Joe Lucas, 36, who say they feel they have no option but to get rid of their vehicle - a Seat Ibiza. “They are attracting you to the city centre and then pricing you out while you’re there,” Aaron told the M.E.N.

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Now, NCP has issued a statement on the controversy, saying the permit was ‘financially unviable’. It said: “We do understand the concern about the recent price changes on this car park.

“Unfortunately the residents have been benefiting from a Resident Roving season ticket that was proving financially unviable for the business and as a result that product has now been discontinued. In its place is a season ticket that customers can purchase on a monthly, quarterly or annual basis and offers a discount off the standard roll up rate.

“We apologise to our customers for this obviously unwelcome price rise, but we are still offering opportunities to have discounted parking rates and are simply unable to continue to offer the parking spaces at such a greatly discounted rate.”

The apology follows other residents also reporting they