A group of Beeston business owners are determined not to give up their fight against changes to free parking in the town, which they say is hurting trade. More than 1,000 people have now signed a petition, endorsed by Broxtowe's MP, calling for Labour-led Broxtowe Borough Council to rethink its cancelling of free one-hour parking at its facilities.
Philippa Dytham-Double, the owner of Double Image Photography on Chilwell Road and the organiser of the petition, said: "People are really angry about this and have been showing their support for the traders, especially all the small independents that we have on Chilwell Road. It's a difficult time anyway with the cost of living crisis and inflation.
"In Broxtowe we have had huge issues with parking. I implore our local council to do more to tackle this problem, as it has a huge impact on shops, business owners and local residents. The photography business owner added: "They did this without telling us and I found out by chance that it was happening. They should have been in consultation with us but they weren't and I think that's why there has been so much uproar. We're determined as a group of businesses not to let this one disappear, so we're all singing from the same hymn sheet."