Labour councillors express delight at forcing Tory parking charge u-turn

Car Parking

A North West Leicestershire Labour councillor has today expressed his delight after leading a successful campaign against proposed hikes in parking charges.

Councillor Nick Clarke, Labour spokesman for Business and Economic Regneration, has been leading a dynamic community based campaign against the proposals.

Councillor Clarke said:

From the moment the Tory proposals were announced we knew they were wrong for businesses and wrong for families in North West Leicestershire.

‘The Conservative administration didn’t seem to realise that our community is struggling right now and the last thing that was needed was increased parking charges.’ Councillor Clarke continued.

The Labour group had mobilised businesses, community groups and residents throughout the district in compiling a petition, to this point comprising of more than 1000 signatures, against the proposals.

Councillor Clarke added ‘Having seen the widespread anger throughout the district against increased charges we were confident that it was not a matter of if but when the Tories would have to backtrack on this ill thought out policy.

‘I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of those businesses who agreed to circulate and promote our petition and the many people who signed it. This is a great victory for community activism.’

At a Cabinet meeting of North West Leicestershire District Council on 13 December Conservative Councillors announced they would be dropping proposals to increase parking charges in Coalville and Ashby De La Zouch and against introducing them in Ibstock, Measham and Castle Donington.