The news from our Labour-run council this week that residents and local businesses will be waiting many more years for High Street and Town Centre regeneration will surprise no-one and is just the latest twist in a long line of failures to get this delivered over their last 11 years in control.
Regeneration aside, Labour have not only failed to bring regeneration to our High Street but have also failed in any attempts to support local businesses and residents whilst we all wait for it to happen.
Last year the Labour-run council conducted a resident’s survey on our town centre, at rate-payers and taxpayers’ expense, and it found that over half of respondents said that free or cheaper parking would encourage them to use the town centre more.
We think it is high time that Labour now acted on that advice – and worked with us to implement a free parking scheme in our town centre, and so the Conservative group of councillors will be presenting a motion at council this month to do just that. Up and down the country other councils have done this with great effect, helping to boost footfall and revenue.
We pledged to campaign for this initiative in the local elections this year, and we know that local businesses need this support more than ever. So we are calling on Labour to work together so we can help our High Street now, before it is far too late. The choice is theirs.
