Labour backs campaign to save Farmers Market from parking charge hike

READING & DISTRICT LABOUR PARTY MEDIA RELEASE

14 February 2011

Labour backs campaign to save Farmers Market from parking charge hike

A campaign to scrap a new £4 parking charge for the area round Great Knollys Street which users of the Market fear might lead to the Market folding has received firm backing from Labour’s Tony Page, who says he expressed his opposition to the charge when he was briefed about the plan late last year.

He says: “I was told my comments would be considered, but so desperate are the Tories for cash that it’s clear they were discounted. Like many other businesses, the Farmers Market is having a tough time and the last thing it needs is users having to pay a £4 surcharge. As a regular user I know that the Farmers Market is an asset to the town, which many people value as it means they can get quality produce. The Conservative-led Council ought to be proud of it and supporting it - not threatening to strangle it!”

The campaign against the charges has spread to the Farmers Market Facebook page, and next Saturday’s Market will see signatures being collected for a petition to be presented to the Council meeting on 22 February, and Cllr. Page is calling for regular users to turn up and add their names.