PARKING ON THE BLACK MARKET

Visitors' parking permits are being secretly sold to people who can save hundreds of pounds by avoiding season ticket charges in council car parks, claims a city councillor.

It means commuters are saving anything up to £360 a year on season ticket charges.

It is reported that some commuters are paying up to £500 on the black market for a resident's permit instead of finding the £860 for a season ticket.

The favourite area is around the railway station where parking spaces are limited but demand is high.

Council chiefs and police say such action could be illegal and are warning anyone involved in the scam to stop or they could face prosecution.

A city centre resident, who did not want to be named, said he had been selling his visitors' permit to a shopkeeper for years. In return he received £500 per year and his pick of goods.

"I didn't need it because I already have a parking space at my house, so a residents' and visitors' permit was overkill. It was a friendly arrangement - I could have sold it for a good bit more, but I was doing him a favour. I expect a lot of people are at it; parking is a big issue here."

He added that he no longer sold the permit, having given it to a friend.

Residents pay just £30 a year for their parking permits plus an additional £15 for visitors to park.

The reports of permit selling came from Cllr Chris Pines, who said many residents had complained about the misuse.

"A number of people are using their permits fraudulently. People turn up at 8am and then disappear until 5.30pm. It is happening all over the city," he claimed.

"The council is being complacent on this. They should take it more seriously. I fear they don't have enough personnel to deal with it."

The council introduced a residents-only parking scheme in the mid-1990s across much of Winchester. Immediately a demand was created from commuters unwilling to pay the charges. There are currently 7,500 residents, and visitors, permits in circulation.

One angry resident, who asked not to be named but who lives in Sussex Street, said he thought his neighbour was involved.

He said: "I keep seeing a man parking outside his house and then walking off towards the station, and he's got a permit but I know he doesn't live here.

"The council should be checking all these permits - it's not like they don't have enough wardens."

However, Basil Davies, parking manager at Winchester City Council, denied the authority was being complacent.

When misuse is alleged, council officers will check and then send a warning letter threatening to withdraw the visitor's permit.

Mr Davies, a former police chief inspector, said he sent out about two such letters a month. So far no permit has been revoked.

He said: "I'm very aware and concerned about this. But it is difficult to detect. We rely on the public to let us know."

Mr Davies said if the abuse continues the council may have to come up with a new system for dealing with people visiting homes. A police spokeswoman said that selling permits could be deception - a criminal offence. It depended on the way they had been issued, which was being looked into.

What do you think? Are you selling off your parking permit? Perhaps you know someone who is selling theirs. Call our Winchester office on 01962 854355 or e-mail chris.semple@soton-echo.co.uk.