THE plan to introduce Sunday parking charges has been suspended by Wiltshire Council.
The new Sunday charges were due to start this week in all Wiltshire Council-run car parks in Melksham and across the county. However, it is not known how long the suspension will last.
Thousands of residents across the county had already signed a petition in an attempt to force a debate and vote on the charges at the next meeting of Wiltshire Council in the New Year.
Reacting to the news, leader of the opposition and Lib Dem group leader on Wiltshire Council, cllr Ian Thorn said, “I’m delighted that Wiltshire Council’s cabinet has finally seen sense. These Sunday parking charges were a terrible idea.
“They would have hit our town centre residents, businesses, churches and the work of all of us who want to keep our high streets alive. Thousands of residents from right across Wiltshire had already signed our protest petition, with more doing so every day. We already had the 5,000 signatures we needed to force a council debate and a vote on this plan.
“From what I was hearing from councillors in the different political groups, I believe we would have won that vote. No doubt the cabinet had also worked that out.”
The suspension of Sunday charges was announced as part of a £8million commitment by Wilshire Council to support local towns and communities across the county. A 12-month programme to deliver improvements to local highway maintenance including repair of potholes, improve white lining, weed removal, kerb and pavement improvements, verges and improved road signage will be implemented.
Wiltshire Council says that the programme ‘reflects what’s important to local communities and recognises the pressures on high streets.’
Cllr Pauline Church, cabinet member for economic development said, “This re-affirms our commitment to supporting our high streets and local businesses. We need to do all we can to encourage shoppers and visitors across the county, particularly as we head into the important festive period.
“This programme of highway improvements, combined with the suspension of charging for parking on Sundays, sends a robust message that we are committed to supporting the local economy and that we listen and respond.”
