Defeat over car park VAT fees to cost councils £1bn

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Councils have lost a billion-pound battle with the taxman over the payment of VAT on car park fees. Four councils – the Isle of Wight, West Berkshire, Mid-Suffolk District and South Tyneside Metropolitan – had brought a test case before a tax tribunal. 

They argued they should not have paid VAT on off-street parking fees, saying it was part of their traffic management duties, which are exempt. 

Other councils had similar claims against the taxman – some going back to 1973 – and had been standing by awaiting the ruling.

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PARK 'N' BRIBE AS WARDEN TAKES £20 NOT TO ISSUE TICKET

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ABOVE: Traffic wardens have come
 under pressure for taking bribes
(model pic)

THIS traffic warden is caught red-handed taking cash in 

return for not ­slapping a motorist with a hefty fine.

The official offered our man free rein to park all day in a costly 

parking bay in exchange for a £20 bung.

Now the warden could be slapped with a P45 by his employers.

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Bath's Royal United 'took £1.3m in parking charges'

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Hospitals across the region are taking about £7.5 million a year from people in parking charges, research has shown.

Bath's Royal United Hospital took £1.3 million, according to figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act.

The Western Daily Press reported how NHS trusts in the Bristol area raked in more than £2.3 million last year, from patients, visitors and staff.

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Greater Manchester hospitals raise £47m by charging patients and staff to park

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The huge cost of parking charges to hospital patients in Greater Manchester is revealed today. Hospital car parks have raked in nearly £47m from patients, and staff in the last six years.

Figures obtained by the M.E.N show some hospital trusts are generating seven-figure sums every year.

Patents, visitors and staff paid more than £2.5m to park at the Central Manchester Hospitals complex in the last financial year.

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Roadchef cooks up £90 parking fine

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I recently parked at a Roadchef services on the M1 for three hours without realising there was a fee if you park for longer than two. As a result, I have received a "charge notice" from a company called CP Plus which, I believe, manages the parking, demanding £90, reduced to £50 if I pay within 14 days. I checked the Roadchef website which confirmed there is a charge and a "penalty" if you stay beyond two hours.

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Police van parked on school zig zags in Hoo

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A police officer is being investigated after an angry parent photographed her van parked on zig-zag lines outside a school.

The inquiry was launched after parents spotted the van parked outside Hoo St Werburgh Primary on October 11.

The vehicle was parked on the yellow lines in a "no stopping" zone.

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Council parkers brought to book at Trowbridge library

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USERS at Trowbridge’s newly revamped library have found themselves unable to park as Wiltshire Council staff take up spaces reserved for the public.

The new library was unveiled by the council in September as part of the £24m refurbishment of County Hall, which had its official opening today, but staff based at the new HQ have been using the 42 spaces reserved for the public, to the frustration of visitors.

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