BUSINESSES in Weymouth and Portland have welcomed the suggestion that small towns should scrap town centre car parking charges.

Conservative MP Marcus Jones said that small-town high street shoppers should be able to park for free to help provide a boost to local shops and stop them from closing and the news made national headlines at the weekend.

The quotes from Mr Jones, who is parliamentary under secretary for communities and local government come as councillors in Weymouth and Portland prepare to discuss a petition opposing the increase in parking charges in the borough.

The petition was launched by the Weymouth and Portland Chamber of Commerce (WPCC) alongside the Weymouth BID.

The comments came after Cardigan council in Wales allowed people to parking in the town centre for free when thieves destroyed the town’s four parking machines.

Custom in local shops increased by up to 50 per cent following the vandalism.

Speaking to The Telegraph newspaper, Mr Jones, said that councils should think about developing policies to attract people to the area.

He said: “Those areas seem to be doing better and I think it’s really important that councils understand that and develop their policies to make sure that they are attracting people to come and shop and frequent the high street.”

“Unfair parking fines push up the cost of living and undermine high streets. Instead, councils should be focusing their efforts on supporting our town centres and motorists, not by raising money through over-zealous parking enforcement.”

Michelle Hind, president of the WPCC welcomed the comments.

She said: “I think actually what it shows is support for our petition but also shows that it is a big issue all over the country and I think it is one that they can’t just sweep under the carpet.”

More than 1,100 people have signed the petition and Mrs Hind encouraged them to come down to the meeting and show their support.

She said: “I want all the people that signed the petition and that supports it to come along and just be counted.”

New legislation unveiled by the government earlier this year recommends that parking charges are not used for profit and gives local people the right to challenge changes to parking.

The full council will have to debate the petition for 15 minutes.

A report sent to councillors stated that the council is still acting responsibly and is not using its car parks to raise revenues.