Council will discuss Sunday parking charges at meeting next week

A petition opposing the introduction of parking charges on a Sunday will be presented at full council on Tuesday.

The petition, led by Maidenhead and District Chamber of Commerce, has received more than 1,300 signatures online and hundreds more on a paper version since it was set up in March.

Charges are due to be imposed on those without Advantage Cards as part of the borough’s budget for the next financial year. The move is expected to raise about £40,000.

The charges were supposed to be introduced on Monday, April 4. However, the decision was put on hold until after the council debate on Tuesday which was triggered by the petition.

Marc Jones, vice president of the chamber, will present the petition to councillors at the full council.

He said: “You just have to walk down the High Street and count the number of empty units.

"Towns such as Windsor and High Wycombe have more to offer than us for shoppers which is why they charge.

“The footfall in Maidenhead is higher on Sunday than on Saturday so if the council impose parking charges it will be counter-productive and create a barrier to attract more visitors.”