The Nottingham Evening Post are reporting that the future of Nottingham Express Transit Phase 2 extensions could be in doubt because of a row over the Workplace Parking Levy (WPL) scheme involving Boots. It is claimed that because Boots – one of the largest employers in the region – are against the idea of the WPL the Department for Transport are getting cold feet over the idea and this may lead to not enough cash being available for NET.
The Evening Post says that Boots major opposition to the WPL had led the DfT to reconsider the extensions and even offer a different source of funding for the tram. However, this alleged new deal was rejected the City Council because it would not provide enough money in the long run.
A source at Westminster is quoted in the Nottingham Evening Post: “Things are taking longer than anyone thought they would. It turns out those at the top of DfT are beginning to wobble because of pressure from Boots; the company is dead against the levy. An idea was floated from the Government side about providing some sort of alternative funding, but without the WPL it would have meant covering the tram's costs for the next 20, 30 or 60 years. The sums needed simply aren't there and so the idea was knocked on the head."
A spokesman from Boots has claimed that they are just being made a scapegoat and the DfT are just looking for excuses to say no, as the cash is not there. He said: “The money raised by the workplace parking levy is only a small part of the total cost. It is more likely that the Department for Transport is taking a fresh look at the finances because of how much the scheme is costing and whether it can find the money in these financially-strapped times."
Source: This is Nottingham