The Tory Executive of Wokingham Borough Council have turned a deaf ear to the Lib Dems' request for free car parking in Wokingham Town during the long-term roadworks.
Councillor Prue Bray (Leader of the Wokingham Lib Dem Councillor Group and Councillor for Winnersh ward) said, "Shop traders have been telling me that the roadworks in town are having a devastating effect on their businesses. After weeks of disruption from roadworks last year, they are now having to put up with months of roadworks right in the heart of Wokingham town.
"At Wokingham Borough Council last night I asked the Tory Executive to consider offering free car parking on Thursdays and Fridays to encourage visitors to Wokingham. This was arranged during the weeks of roadworks last year, so I was hopeful that we could have the same deal this time.
"I was surprised when the Tories flatly refused. Their excuse was that the car parks in town are all accessible so they saw no reason to offer free parking. They have missed the point completely. It's the roadworks that are putting people off coming into Wokingham altogether, not the accessibility of the car parks. I believe that offering free parking would help persuade people to come back to Wokingham. At the meeting, the Tories boasted that they had done a lot for the town, but that is not borne out by their actions. Turning down our request is a slap in the face for our struggling shopkeepers."
Follow the party's activity on...