Local MP Marcus Jones has today welcomed the announcement by the Local Government Secretary, Eric Pickles, that parking fees will be reduced.

The Government wants to encourage people to shop in town centres, rather than go to out-of-town shopping centres where parking is easier. Planning changes brought in by Labour ten years ago restricted the amount of parking spaces allowed as part of a new development. Eric Pickles believes those restrictions have hit small businesses the hardest as they struggle to compete with out-of-town supermarkets.

In Nuneaton, the Borough Council, controlled by Labour, recently increased parking charges by a staggering 25% despite widespread opposition. Since the increase in charges, trade in the town has decreased.

Marcus Jones, who in Parliament chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Town Centres, said: “I want to see small and independent traders prosper, in Nuneaton and throughout the country, so I welcome the announcement that the Government wants to see a reduction in parking fees and, importantly, more spaces created for cars in town centres.

“The last Government had an anti-car obsession which has greatly hurt businesses, particularly local shops. Although the Government cannot force Councils to reduce parking charges, I would certainly hope that Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council takes heed of the advice and reverses their hugely unpopular increase in car parking charges.”