Call for free parking to boost shopping

Parking should be free for one day a week in each of Sandwell's six towns to give an immediate boost to struggling traders, the borough's opposition leader says.

Councillor Ray Nock, the leader of Sandwell's conservative opposition group, said business around the borough is suffering in the economic downturn and parking charges put off shoppers.

He added that guidelines from the Government's Department for Business, Innovation & Skills asked councils to consider whether parking charges deterred visitors.

He said: "Removing parking charges would help traders who have lost so much business. I think the least the council could consider is dropping them for one day a week to give business an immediate stimulus."

Market trader Jim Greenaway, who has run a flower stall on Wednesbury and West Bromwich markets for 15 years, welcomed the proposal.

The 69-year-old father-of-one said: "Trade used to be great before prices increased. Getting rid of charges would bring people back into the town."