Traders slam Wansbeck MP on parking charges

Posted by The Journal on Sep 26, 09 10:59 AM in News

Traders in Morpeth have started in an angry war of words with their local MP over his stance on the thorny issue of car parking charges in Northumberland.

Morpeth Chamber of Trade says it is disappointed that Wansbeck MP Denis Murphy will not support its campaign to end the current two-tier system of charging in his own constituency.

Paying to park in Morpeth / Wansbeck MP Denis Murphy

They have accused him of "political point scoring" rather than ensuring a fair deal for all of the communities which he represents.

Car parking remains free for motorists visiting towns in Wansbeck and Blyth Valley, while charges ranging from ÃÂ£1.10p to 50p an hour are levied in towns in the rural areas of the county.

In Mr Murphy's constituency, parking is free in the towns of Ashington, Bedlington and Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, but is charged for in Morpeth.

He is refusing to support the chamber of trade's campaign for a level playing field across the county - which would mean the introduction of fees in all major towns.

Yesterday estate agent Charles Robinson, who chairs the chamber's car parking sub-committee, said Mr Murphy's stance was wrong in seeking to defend an 'intrinsically unfair' situation.

"What is exceedingly disappointing is the fact that it doesn't seem to cause him any problems that some of his constituents are paying for car parking while others aren't.

"He has written to businesses in south east Northumberland championing the cause of maintaining free parking in Wansbeck and Blyth Valley, totally ignoring the fact that Morpeth, which is also in his constituency, has had charges for years.

"He says he wants all parking charges in Northumberland scrapped, but we know this will not happen given the current state of the county council's finances."

Last night Mr Murphy said: "Instead of campaigning to have charges imposed on areas that they don't control, Morpeth Chamber of Trade should be fighting to have them lifted in Morpeth.

"I have called on the county council to lift all parking charges in Northumberland. I have never supported charges in Morpeth.

"However, I don't agree that just because there are charges in some towns, they should also be imposed in Wansbeck."

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