From 31st March the cost of a Penalty Charge Notice for parking on yellow lines in Luton will rise from £60 to £70. New government regulations give the Council the right to increase charges and Luton Council is to impose the maximum increase allowed.

At the same time the Parking Attendants are to be re-branded as Civil Enforcement officers.

“We all expect prices to go up from time to time,” says Liberal Democrat Leader, councillor David Franks

“But Labour councillors cannot justify an increase almost 8 times the rate of inflation. It looks like they are trying to sneak through another stealth tax increase to boost funds. If that’s not the case, then why has this huge increase never been mentioned in any of the budget papers doing the rounds just now.”