A business lobby group has praised Epping Forest District Council after it ratified proposals to freeze all car park charges in the region for the second year running.
Chairman of the south west Essex branch of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), David Miles, said:
“At a meeting this week Epping Forest Council confirmed that for the second consecutive year car park charges across all car parks run by the council will be frozen and at the same time there will be free parking in all council run long stay car parks every Saturday during the year.
“This is excellent news for town centres such as Buckhurst Hill, Debden, Epping, Loughton, Ongar and Waltham Abbey and gives retailers the opportunity to develop ways of attracting shoppers to use those facilities and bring additional business through their door.
“This is a practical and positive step by Epping Forest District Council and it is important that retailers now work with their local town centre partnerships, Essex FSB and Epping chamber of commerce so that together we can get maximum benefit from this council decision to increase the number of shoppers using their local shops.”