FREE car parking in Petersfield's car parks in the run-up to Christmas could be under threat after rumours that the scheme has been axed.
For the past three years, East Hampshire District Council has traditionally provided free car parking on several days before Christmas to encourage more shoppers to come into town to do their shopping.
But confusion reigns over the issue and while a Lib Dem East Hampshire district councillor has categorically stated that the the district council has said no to the traditional free car parking in Petersfield and Alton, a Conservative councillor from the Tory-led authority has told The Herald that the scheme is still under discussion.
"A decision will be made in the next few weeks," said a spokesman for Richard Millard, the portfolio holder for business development.
"We are having meetings over the coming weeks," said the spokesman."
Last year, both Petersfield and Alton shoppers enjoyed a 12 half-days of free parking in the run up to Christmas as part of a 'Twelve Days of Christmas' shopping promotion for the two towns.
In Petersfield, shoppers were allowed to park for free on six occasions in December from 2pm to 6pm on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons and once on a Friday afternoon close to the festive season.
The political row over Christmas parking is the second to break out within weeks between the Lib Dems and the Tory-led district council over parking issues.
"The news that EHDC is doing nothing this year to promote free car parking this Christmas comes as a shock following mounting opposition from Lib Dems and resident about hikes in the cost of car parking in EHDC car parks and the unwelcome introduction of Sunday parking charges," said Adam Carew, East Hampshire's prospective Lib Dem parliamentary candidate and EHDC shadow portfolio holder for environment and transport.
"We have both written and had verbal confirmation from officers that no free car parking is being planned this Christmas to boost local trade. We are told that normally the orders would have been made by now. If correct, this is a double whammy."
Mr Carew maintains that local businesses, shoppers and residents are "already paying through the nose" for increased car parking charges and Sunday parking in EHDC car parks.
"Now we are told there will be no traditional seasonal free parking this Christmas either.
"Lib Dems have supported free Christmas parking for the last three years and we strongly urge EHDC to do the same again this year."
And Mr Carew threatened that such is the outrage over the decision, the Lib Dems "will force a U-turn on EHDC car parking charges".
Sam Payne, East Hampshire district councillor and Hampshire county councillor for Petersfield Butser said: "If there is any doubt over the free Christmas car parking, we have to be seriously worried. People have come to expect this and it is another example of money grabbing."
And she claimed that after the district council's pledges to keep council taxes to zero per cent increases, it is now struggling to keep its promises.
"It will be terrible if these rumours are true. It is great for shopkeepers who know they are going to be busy and for members of the public who don't have to worry about their time the car parks and take time off work to get their shopping in a relaxed atmosphere.
"I think Tory councillors have to seriously think outside party lines to do this to people they represent, it is not a management decision, it is a decision of conscience," declared Miss Payne.
In the meantime, the Lib Dems say they have more than 2,000 signatures across the district which they say are growing week by week. The petition, Mr Carew said, would be presented to the EHDC full council on Wednesday, December 3.
And he predicted: "If the Tories have any sense we will see a 'surprise' U-turn before then".
And he warned the Conservative council, saying: "There is no way on earth they can ignore it. If they do they are going to get very heavily damaged in political terms."
Trevor Boyden, the chairman of Petersfield Businesses, had a more pragmatic approach to the possible loss of free Christmas car parking hoping that the money saved will be put into marketing the town's Christmas festivities this year.