A CAMPAIGNER for lower parking fees has welcomed Cllr Robbins hint that the council may retreat from its current policy.

Businessman Bill Hunt, who works as a consultant for Skoda dealership Trans City, based in Hoe Street, Walthamstow, says the business. needs 16 permits to operate effectively, meaning fee increases have cost it thousands of pounds.

Speaking at the annual State of the Borough debate last night Cllr Robbins said he had “a great deal of sympathy” with the view that parking fees are adversely affecting businesses and hinted that the policy may be looked at.

Mr Hunt said: “I hope it will become a reality.

“It is all very well trying to get people to use public transport but many people who want to use a family butcher's, for example, will not go if they have to pay a lot of money to park, they will go to Tesco instead.

“ And if we are not careful we will live in a place where all the traditional family businesses have gone.”

Any move to reduce or abolish parking charges will certainly be backed by the opposition Conservative group, whose leader Matt Davis has long criticised the council's parking policies, while Lib Dem leader John Macklin said the borough needs to think about why it charges for certain areas.

The borough has brought in more controlled parking zones and has increased parking charges in recent years.

Businesses can purchase three 12 month permits for £390 each, but every permit after that now costs £550. In 2008 the council increased the cost of a five hour permit from £7 a book to £21.