Council bow to public pressure

Opposition councillors were celebrating yesterday after Staffordshire Moorlands District Council backtracked and threw out three controversial proposals.

The following proposals will now be scrapped:

A 20p night-time parking charge on all council-run car parks

A £57 fine for late arrivals at burials

A £10 charge to get rid of rats

In further good news, council leaders have also agreed to hold a meeting to discuss the controversial hikes in parking fees.

Traders in Leek and elsewhere in the Moorlands have said that the rise in charges on council-run car parks could drive trade away from already struggling town centres. The meeting will take place on March 27.