Geoffrey Clifton-Brown has pledged his support for local traders in Wotton-Under-Edge, and their calls to increase car parking in the town.

Mr Clifton-Brown said: “I was delighted to attend the Wotton-under-Edge Chamber of Trade recently where clearly many businesspeople felt very strongly that this matter be resolved. I am happy to raise this with the District Council. It may be that restrictions on parking are a result of new central government regulations, and town planning legislation. If this is the case then I will be only too happy to take this up with the Minister at the Department for Communities & Local Government.”

He has today raised the matter with David Hagg, the Chief Executive of Stroud District Council, asking if there is anything further the Council can do.

He added “Small businesses are the lifeblood of our rural economy, and I will do everything I can to ensure their survival.”