WYCHAVON LIB-DEMS PRESENT BUDGET PROPOSALS

12.00.00am GMT Wed 25th Feb 2009

Wychavon Liberal Democrat Group tonight presented their proposals for the 2009/10 Budget.

The LibDems believe that the budget should provide more support to the economy of our towns and help to attract more trade into Wychavon.

They therefore proposed that Wychavon adopts a policy of cheap car parking on one day a week (Wednesday or Thursday) throughout the district for 2009/10.

They proposed that on that day the charge in any charged Wychavon car park should be reduced to 20p for a two hour stay.

For three hours and more the total charge would increase by 70p an hour, i.e. to 90p for three hours (the maximum in a short stay car park) and to £1.60 for four hours.

To pay for this they proposed that Wychavon Councillors and Staff pay for car parking in exactly the same way as members of the public.

(Both get limited free parking at present.)

Group Leader, Margaret Rowley said "Traders across the district tell us that their trade is heavily dependent on the numbers of people visiting our towns. They would like us to do more to attract people and that is why we proposed the cheap day car parking."

We know this must be paid for and we believe it would be right at this time for Wychavon councillors and staff to make sacrifices to benefit the community. Ending the present free parking concessions recognises that we must play our part in helping our local economy at this difficult time."