BROMSGROVE District Council’s cabinet will consider free evening parking in the town following a motion put forward at the full council meeting held on Wednesday, November 19.

The motion was proposed by Rod Laight, Conservative councillor for Slideslow, who suggested the money needed to run the 12-month trial could be provided through savings from successful projects.

Members of the Labour group supported the proposals and said they had put forward similar plans in the past, but these had been met with opposition. They also questioned the timing of the gesture particularly with the election six months away.

Leader of the opposition Labour group Luke Mallett said: "This pre-election u-turn from the Conservatives is very welcome.

"Over the past few years they have consistently refused calls to do just this and cut the ludicrous evening parking charges they themselves introduced in the first place. I hate to think of the damage done to evening traders by the years of blocking and delay.

"It is disappointing the Conservative group again refused to also consider weekend parking, and vouchers that linked parking to High Street shopping.

"The key thing now is whether the cabinet will follow through on the unanimous council decision and Labour will be keeping the pressure on to make sure this is delivered and then retained."

Councillor Mark Bullivant, whose portfolio covers parking, said: “It is unfortunate that Councillor Luke Mallet has no idea about finance and what goes on in order to give the public decent parking.”

He added that Labour expected schemes to be implemented before the authority could assess the full implications.

• During the meeting, the council also announced it would be offering free parking on all pay on foot and pay and display car parks in the town centre on the weekends of December 6 and 7 and 20 and 21.

Cllr Bullivant added: “Our high street looks amazing following its revamp and we have lots of unique shops and independent cafes as well as national chains for shoppers to choose from.”

The motion was unanimously supported and will now go forward to the next cabinet meeting being held on Wednesday, December 3.