OPPOSITION leaders are calling for longer free parking to help traders in two town high streets.
Erewash's Labour parliamentary candidate Catherine Atkinson wants the Conservative-led borough council to increase free car-parking to an hour in Ilkeston and Long Eaton.
She is supporting the Labour opposition, which will introduce hour-long free parking if they are elected to the council next year.
The move comes as Ms Atkinson launches a new High Street Task Force feedback group to find out what businesses want the most from politicians in their area.
However, the leader of Erewash Borough Council has hit back, saying there is not enough money in the council coffers to cover the move.
Ms Atkinson said she believed the council was not addressing the issues put forward.
She said: "I don't think parking is the be all and end-all but it is an important place to start.
"We need to have more effective communication in order to support businesses and traders.
"But I don't think the current administration at Erewash Borough Council have the political will to do it."
Councillor Alex Phillips, leader of the Labour councillors on Erewash Borough Council, said: "If we want our high streets to survive and even thrive, it is vital that we listen to both traders and shoppers.
"They both want an hour's free car parking and that's what Labour will deliver if elected."
Leader of Erewash Borough Council, Councillor Chris Corbett, said there was not space in the budget to offer free one hour parking and attacked Ms Atkinson's comments.
He said: "It would be far too expensive, I don't know where she would get the money from.
"We can't offer it at present but we might be able to do it in the future. I think she's barking up the wrong tree."
Lynne Turner-York, chairman of the Market Traders' Federation of Long Eaton, said the idea of hour-long free parking was sound in principle.
She said: "I know that Jessica Lee MP was very supportive of the market traders but I haven't heard a lot about Ms Atkinson.
"If she can get it off the ground it would be brilliant."
Paul Ashmore, owner of P&H Pet Foods, has been a market trader in Long Eaton for 35 years and wants to see words put into practice.
He said: "It's a great thing if they could get it going.
"It's no great coincidence that Tesco and Asda in Long Eaton have free parking and everyone goes there.
"I'm not aware of Ms Atkinson. I tend to find a lot of politicians disappointing.
"But free parking couldn't not help."
What would you do to attract trade into empty high streets? Email newsdesk@nottinghampost.com
