Farron celebrates success after Tory-led County Council forced to drop on street parking charges

South Lakes MP Tim Farron is celebrating the news that his campaign to stop the county council charging for on-street parking has been successful.

The Conservative-led County Council last week forced through massive budget cuts to try and balance the books for the next year. In their proposed 2010/11 budget they were hoping to charge for on street short stay and disc parking, which is currently free in many areas. The campaign against this proposal was led by Tim Farron MP and the Liberal Democrats.

The proposal would have adversely affected communities like Ambleside and Windermere where businesses rely on on-street parking to attract trade. Tim has led a campaign against the charges, working with local businesses and chambers of commerce to fight against the proposal.

Also within the 2010/11 budget the Conservatives have proposed to close the Kendal Fire Service repair shop and the plans to place a cap on fees for care homes threaten to leave elderly people in the South Lakes (where home charges are above average due to higher property prices) with no choice but to leave their homes. Tim recently referred the proposal about care home charges to the independent Care Quality Commission to rule on them, but he remains committed to protecting our local fire service and local elderly residents from Tory County Council cuts.

Tim said, "I am delighted that our campaign has led to a victory and that we have stopped the council making this decision. Our tourism industry needs all the help and support it can get and this proposal would have been a huge blow. I have worked behind the scenes with tourism groups and local businesses to make sure that this didn't get through."

ENDS