Douglas Council says if the government had agreed to its request for a rebate it could have continued offering free parking until later this year.

The council’s leader, David Christian, was speaking after parking charges at Shaw’s Brow, the Bottleneck, Drumgold Street and Chester street car parks were reintroduced on Monday, sparking anger among retailers desperate for people to return to their shops.

The charges were suspended at the height of the lockdown to help key workers park in the town centre when most of the island was told to stay at home.

Mr Christian said: ’The Department of Infrastructure reintroduced charges in the car parks they operate three weeks earlier, on May 14, while the council was still offering free parking.

’The council pays the DoI £1.3 million a year to rent Drumgold Street and Chester Street car parks. Without revenue from parking fees, we simply could not meet that sum.

’Had the department agreed to the council’s request for a rebate on or suspension of the operator’s licence, we would have been in a position to continue offering free parking until later this year to support local retailers. As the situation stands, it’s not financially sustainable for the council to do this.

’The decision to reintroduce parking fees was also taken because, with the easing of lockdown restrictions, more and more people are returning to work and choosing to commute by car rather than use public transport, given the current social distancing protocols.

’This has seen our tariff-free car parks occupied mostly by commuters’ vehicles, leaving only limited spaces available for shoppers to use. Compounding the situation, parking is no longer available on the former Lord Street bus station site or on the promenade walkway, factors outside of the council’s control.’

With more commuters returning to the roads and car parks beginning to fill up, the cost for parking would have fallen onto the shoulders of Douglas ratepayers in a year where the council is facing calls to cut business rates and will have missed out on money from the cancellation of the TT.

Mr Christian said that while it was known that reintroducing charges ’would not be met with universal approval’ but added: ’It’s vital that shoppers are not deterred from coming into the town centre.’

He added: ’’The council understands the concerns of businesses and members of the public alike and shares the same burden of having financial obligations that must be met despite the loss of income being experienced during this difficult time. ’The council will continue to support and encourage local businesses wherever and however it can but this cannot be done based on an unsustainable financial model, which ultimately could have a negative effect on our ability to deliver vital public services.’