Mayor of London Boris Johnson has announced that drivers will now have an extra ten minutes to park in red route parking bays taking the time allowed to park from 20 minutes to 30 minutes which will boost trade on our local high streets, except in Southwark where the Labour run Council have opted out of the time scheme.

The Mayor says that this will increase the flexibility for drivers and boost local high streets. The Federation of small businesses have welcomed the move saying that according to their members over zealous parking regulations and lack of available parking spaces are among the main reasons for not shopping locally. But Southwark have ignored this and don’t want shoppers to get the extra ten minutes.   

In recent weeks Conservative Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Eric Pickles has criticised over zealous parking regulations and is seeking to roll them back in a bid to boost high street trade.

Sadly Labour-run Southwark Council are ignoring the local traders across Southwark and opting out of the scheme. Deputy Leader of Southwark Conservatives Cllr Lewis Robinson said “I am extremely disappointed that with small business Saturday just around the corner Southwark Council have chosen to opt out of a scheme designed to help boost our local high streets”.