THOUSANDS of South Lakeland residents face the possibility of paying to park on streets outside their homes.

Motorists applying for parking permits could be charged £10 for a new permit and £20 to replace a lost permit after South Lakeland District Council set the ball rolling to charge for the privilege of parking close to home.

There are 29 permit schemes in parts of Kendal, Hawkshead, Elterwater, Ambleside, Milnthorpe, Ulverston and Windermere, with more than 4,000 permits and 1,250 replacements issued each year.

Under the Decriminalised Parking Enforcement (DPE) agreement SLDC is required to administer and enforce all Cumbria County Council resident permit schemes in the district.

Members of SLDC's cabinet, who ratified the charge at a meeting this week, said it was being done to cover costs and not make money.

SLDC's head of commercial and technical services Dave Conlin said the cost of issuing a permit, including postage and stationery, was approximately £5. Levying the charge would then cost a further £5.

SLDC portfolio holder for economic prosperity and transport Coun Graham Vincent said: "We are not in a position to fund this scheme ourselves. If we did, we would have to pass the charge on to all residents via council tax which would be unfair."

For reaction and story in full, see the June 1, Westmorland Gazette.