Good news for workers and shoppers as town centre parking fees frozen

The freeze comes as councillors are set to consider proposed fees and charges for services for 2018.

The move is part of the process for setting the council’s overall budget for 2018/19.

Across the council the fee increase has generally been set at two percent.

However, off-street pay and display car parking charges will remain the same next year.

Coun. Mohammed Ishtiaq, executive member for resources and performance management, said: "We’re doing our best to balance the books and ensure services are financially viable while, at the same time, continuing to provide good quality services to our residents.

“We’ve done what we can to avoid increasing charges if possible and for the second year running we’ve frozen car parking prices.

"Where we’ve had to increase charges we’ve tried to keep any increase to a minimum.”

A report outlining the full range of proposed fees and charges will be discussed by councillors over the coming weeks before going to a meeting of the full council for approval.