A night-time parking should be scrapped because it will drive people away from Witham, say councillors.

From this month, Braintree Council is charging drivers 50p to use its car parks in Mill Lane, Mayland Road and Newlands Drive from 7pm to 7am.

The new Easton Road car park costs £1 from 7pm to 4am.

Chief executive Nicola Beach said: “Traditionally, the council has not charged for parking after 6pm (except at George Yard), but it seemed only reasonable to expect all users to pay for parking, irrespective of what time they use the car parks.

“It could be argued that, currently, the day-time users are subsidising the night-time users, who also imact on the level of car park maintenance required and there is an issue of fairness to be considered."

See this week's Witham Times for the full story.