Car parking charging in towns including Attleborough and Thetford put on hold by Breckland Council

A council has hit the brakes on highly controversial plans to introduce new car parking charges.

Breckland Council revealed it is pausing proposals to bring in fees across the district, including in Attleborough and Thetford, in light of uncertainty surrounding local government reorganisation in line with devolution proposals.

The county currently has a two tier system, with some services provided by Norfolk County Council and some by the city, district and borough councils.

The shake-up would create unitary councils to provide all services, along with an elected mayor for Norfolk and Suffolk.

Sam Chapman-Allen, Breckland Council’s leader, said: “We will be pausing any future progression with this policy implementation because this will be for the new administration, whatever that looks like, to decide.”

The authority said the charges were necessary to pay for the upkeep of car parks, but many feared their introduction would be hugely detrimental to struggling high streets.

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