"Lib Dems would trial Thatcham free parking" - Jeffery

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 25th Jan 2007

Lib Dems are promising to trial free parking for Thatcham

Thatcham Councillor Owen Jeffery has this week lambasted West Berkshire Tories and pledged to trial the free parking proposals for Thatcham's Kingsland Centre if a Lib Dem administration is returned at the local elections in May. Speaking after the West Berkshire Council's Tory administration declined to agree free parking in the town centre, Councillor Jeffery declared:

"The Tories have dismissed this measure, saying that Thatcham will survive this difficult time. I am keen to give free parking at the Kingsland Centre a real go, which is why Lib Dems will trial the scheme if successful in the elections. We can then properly and accurately assess the success of free parking and its impact on local shops and traders. If it is as successful as I hope then it can be rolled out in the future to other locations in West Berkshire"

Councillor Jeffery continued:

"The Tories draw the short straw for Thatcham time and again, but Lib Dems are looking to revitalise the area and reinforce our ongoing support for an important West Berkshire town. We will not stop at free parking, continuing to look for new and innovative ways to stop this gradual slide towards 'Ghost Town Britain'."