Shoppers in Wimbledon Village will once against be able to park for free for 20 minutes after council cutbacks were overturned at this week’s annual budget meeting.

A reduction in free parking to 10 minutes was put in place last year by Merton Council, prompting outrage from shopkeepers who launched a protest.

The Labour-run administration, which governs Merton as a minority with 28 out of 60 councillors, was unable to stop the three opposition parties voting to restore 20 minutes free parking in the village and Wimbledon Park.

The amendment put forward by Merton Liberal Democrats, was supported by Conservative and Merton Park Independent councillors.

Cllr Iain Dysart, leader of the Lib Dems, said: "We are pleased that councillors agreed with us that it made good sense to restore 20 minutes of free parking at shopping parades in Wimbledon Park and Wimbledon Village.

"Removing this provision at a time when many local businesses were already struggling was counter-productive."

Councillor Janice Howard, who represents Wimbledon Park ward, said the change followed on from the Conservatives’ success last month in pushing for the roll out of reduced car parking charges across the borough.

She said: “This is great news for the shops in Arthur Road. A number of them are struggling and Labour’s misguided plans were a further kick in the teeth for small businesses.

“We have consistently argued that restricting parking would deter customers but Labour simply refused to listen.

“I’m therefore pleased that the other two opposition groups have finally seen sense on this crucial issue for our local shopping parades. If only they hadn’t voted for the proposals back in March 2011, they could have saved us all a year of pain.”

Councillor Mark Betteridge, the Labour group’s deputy leader, said the council was currently conducting a fundamental review into parking services and so Labour members would not support the amendment at the vote taken on March 7.

But his colleague and cabinet member for regeneration, Coun Andrew Judge, told this newspaper in November 2011 that Merton Council “could not afford” to allow shoppers to park for free for 20 minutes during the day in Wimbledon Village and Arthur Road.

Coun Judge said: ”I appreciate fully that shops in all areas need as much support as they can get. However, on balance the difference in cost per person parking (30p-45p) will be minimal.

“With millions of pounds worth of savings needed to balance the council’s budget for the next few years, Merton has many very difficult decisions to make over the coming months to ensure it can protect services for those who need them most.”

But Simon Pole, from the Wimbledon Village Business Association, said: “Free parking should be made more obvious and should remain.

“To reduce it will deter visitors and kill trade and there will be more empty shop units; hardly a good advert for Wimbledon in Olympic year.”

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