Brent Borough Council’s Liberal Democrat councillors are calling on the council to lift parking charges in the run-up to Christmas.

The councillors argue that shoppers should be offered 30 minutes' free parking as it would encourage them to buy their Christmas presents in Brent’s high streets.

The Lib Dem transport spokesman, Councillor Daniel Brown, has written to Brent Council’s parking chief, Councillor Jim Moher, asking him to trial free parking on high streets.

The Lib Dems have also asked for parking charges and restrictions to be lifted altogether on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Cllr Brown said: “We said at last week’s council meeting that this Labour council could be doing a lot more to support local businesses.

“Thirty minutes of free parking on high streets would boost local trade and allow residents to go for a quick shopping trip without worrying about the cost of parking.

“Labour councillors should stop seeing parking charges as a way of squeezing ever more cash out of residents.

“As Mary Portas has pointed out, the health of our high streets depends on getting parking right.”