Minister defends tradesperson parking sixfold hike

It is the first change to permit prices since 2006

A sixfold price rise for parking permits for tradespeople is "not particularly big" after 18 years without an increase, the infrastructure minister has said.

A single permit, which includes 10 days of parking, previously cost £10 but rose to £60 from the start of the year on the Isle of Man.

Minister for the Department of Infrastructure (DOI) Tim Crookall said while it was "a massive hike percentage-wise", it was the first increase in costs since 2006.

The increase was brought in as a result of printing and administration costs "exceeding the selling price", he said.

Mr Crookall was questioned about the price hike in the House of Keys.

'Lose a fortune'

Jason Moorhouse MHK asked the DOI minister what consultation had taken place with tradespeople and associations ahead of the change, while Rob Callister MHK urged the minister to bring in incremental price rises annually, rather than "massive hikes" every few years.

Mr Crookall said it had not been communicated in advance because giving "too much notice" could have led to people buying tickets at the old price in bulk, which could have seen the department "lose a fortune".

The increase had been published in the Treasury's 2023 pink book, but for "administration reasons" was not implemented until the start of 2024, he said.

While Mr Crookall admitted the DOI had been "guilty" of not implementing annual inflationary rises, he said his department was "not alone".

However, he said it would be "looking to do at least that in the future".