Change of heart over parking proposal

A proposal to reduce free parking in Southwell from two hours to one hour is set to be reversed at tonight's district council cabinet meeting, town councillors were told yesterday.

Mr Brendan Haigh told Southwell Town Council that the district council's cabinet member for carparking, Mr David Payne, had decided not to make a proposal to reduce free parking in the town.

A report to tonight's cabinet meeting at Kelham Hall proposed reducing free parking at the King Street and Church Street carparks from two hours to one and increasing parking charges.

Mr Haigh, a town and district councillor, said Mr Payne had made the commitment not to propose the reduction providing the town council continued to pay the business rates for the carparks.

Mr Haigh said Mr Payne made the commitment both to him personally and publicly at last night's services overview and scrutiny meeting at Kelham Hall, which Mr Haigh chairs.

"I believe him. He's a man of principle," said Mr Haigh.

"I believe there is no cause for concern."

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