MPs hit out at Enfield Town Sunday parking charges plan (From This Is Local London)

MPs David Burrowes and Nick de Bois hit out at Enfield Town Sunday parking charges plan

12:30pm Saturday 17th December 2011 in News By David Hardiman

POLITICIANS have slammed “contradictory” plans to introduce Sunday parking charges in Enfield Town next month.

Enfield Council plans to charge drivers similar fees to current weekday prices to park in the town centre from January 8, just weeks after backing and funding a campaign to boost local trade.

The Love Your High Streets campaign was set up by the council in conjunction with the Enfield Business and Retailers Association last month to encourage shoppers back to the borough’s high streets, as well as introducing free weekend parking in the run up to Christmas from a Government grant.

But Enfield Southgate MP David Burrowes accused the council of “giving with one hand and taking away with the other” by planning to charge shoppers for parking on Sundays.

He said: “It’s a contradiction – the council is trying to have it both ways.

“They are trying to say they are supporting the high street but then they are going to go and charge people.

“This will have serious consequences not just for shoppers, but for churchgoers and families who like to come and use the town centre on a Sunday.”

And Enfield North MP Nick de Bois, whose constituency also covers Enfield Town, agreed, saying that the council should have learned from Westminster Council – who were forced to abandon similar plans until after the London 2012 Olympics.

He said: “We are going to be discouraging people from coming to Enfield Town at a time when our businesses need them most.

“And to do this in the first quarter of the year, when the retail sector is at its weakest, is ridiculous.”

He added that he had written to Councillor Chris Bond, cabinet member for environment, to ask him to publish figures to justify the move.