Council puts brakes on plans for car park charges

A council has hit the brakes on its controversial plans to introduce car parking charges.

Breckland Council in Norfolk said it would pause the proposals because of the uncertainty around the local government reorganisation.

The local authority owns 30 car parks, including in Dereham, Swaffham and Thetford.

Sam Chapman-Allen, Conservative leader of Breckland Council, said the decision would be made by the new administration "whatever that looks like".

Breckland has previously said operating and maintenance of car parks were costing taxpayers about £450,000 per year.

Similar plans were announced by the council in 2012, however, this resulted in an online petition and concerns that shoppers would avoid high streets.

Speaking at a Breckland Council cabinet meeting earlier, Chapman-Allen said: "This has been an immensely emotive subject and we have engaged honestly and transparently across our communities throughout this process."

Norfolk's eight councils face the prospect of being abolished and reorganised as part of the Labour government's devolution plans.

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