Tories Parking concessions "too little, too late" say Liberal Democrats

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 8th May 2009

Roger Hunneman, Deputy Leader of the West Berkshire Council Liberal Democrats, has responded scathingly to the Council's plans to introduce free parking for a number of Thursdays in central Newbury as well as Hungerford, Theale, Pangbourne and Thatcham.

"Whilst we welcome measures to help the retail trade, Councillor Jones should have supported our Budget alternatives which would have implemented a 60p first hour charge in Newbury with reduced charges across the rest of the District. He opposed those and increased the parking charges by 25%. Now, under pressure from the beleaguered retailers, he comes up with this eight week gimmick. Although the retailers will naturally welcome the measures - as opposed to the Tories doing nothing - it is a case of too little, too late. Councillor Jones knew of the difficulties that the retailers were experiencing well before the Budget meeting and he chose to ignore them - now he seeks a temporary, sticking plaster solution to a severe problem. Completely unsatisfactory".