Cheltenham MP Alex Chalk says it is essential to introduce cheaper parking in the town to support the local economy.

Mr Chalk has launched a petition which he will present to Cheltenham Borough Council calling on the removal of town centre car parking charges after 6pm as part of a more shopper friendly approach.

The MP says the council had agreed to free evening parking bringing Cheltenham in line with Tewkesbury and Gloucester but after 18 months nothing had happened.

Mr Chalk said the in the last financial year the council raked in £3.8 million in parking charges. In addition, the authority recently commissioned a report by consultants, Arup, into Cheltenham's car parking arrangements which stated: "If car parking charges are set too high, this is likely to impact on the number of visitors to the town and could be damaging to the local economy'."

It also noted that evening parking charges in Cheltenham are higher than those in Bath, Bristol, Gloucester and Worcester.

Mr Chalk said: ''Everything should be done to avoid clobbering shoppers with high parking costs. Abolishing charges post-6pm would make Cheltenham a more attractive place to visit. It would boost our night time economy and send a message that Cheltenham is open for business.''

What do you think? Email mark@moosemarketingandpr.co.uk