North West Leicestershire District council has been criticised for its stance on parking in Ashby town centre.

Ashby-de-la-Zouch Town Council's planning committee responded to a letter from the district council's chief executive, Bev Smith, in response to concerns over parking following the new Central England Co-op taking 17 spaces in South Street.

The response suggested that extra spaces - around 150 - could be created by the development of the Money Hill housing estate.

But it was pointed out by councillors that this amounted to 'out of town parking' with the prospect of these proposed spaces being some years away.

The district council said it does not own any land that could be used for additional car parking spaces.

Councillors felt the response was inadequate and said they would be contacting the district council again to pursue the matter.

Cllr Barbara Kneale felt that that Ashby was being treated as a 'second class citizen' by the Coalville-base authority in terms of car parking.

Cllr David Bigby also pointed out that the district council is planning to drop its free weekend Christmas parking this year - and the town council should object to this at the same time.

Cllr Mary Tuckey added: "To me, this seems to have been written by someone who has no idea of what the situation is in Ashby.

"My daughter came into the town to meet me last Saturday, and circled the town three times before she could find anywhere to park.

"It's ridiculous and it's only going to get worse.

"This is almost out of town parking that's been suggested, how many people want to use their legs and walk into town?

"I think we should keep pursuing this, if we don't ask, we don't get. If we make a nuisance of ourselves, eventually they may deign to look at it."

Cllr Mike Ball added: "I don't think we should let this go at all.

"They say they don't own any land for car parking, what's to stop them buying some?

"There are a couple of options, including the Royal Hotel car park. This town council is about to spend a lot of money buying the Bath Grounds, I don't think the district council can expect us to buy the Royal Hotel car park as well.

"They need to put their hand in their pocket. They created the problem by approving the Royal's planning application and now there's no parking there whatsoever.

"Then they approved the Co-op move which lost 17 spaces."

Cllr Kneale said: "We seem to be a second class citizen over here and if we are to encourage businesses - which we've been very good at doing - then we need the parking.

"As much as I'd like people to use their feet, they don't. We should get back in touch with the district council."

Cllr Dan Harrison suggested an in-person meeting, rather than a constant exchange of emails.

He said: "If the shops suffer, you'll never get it back, it'll just trickle away."

Cllr Geraint Thomas added: "I spoke to an elderly couple who found a parking space in Market Street, only to see a traffic warden pouncing on them and taking their registration number before they've even got out of the car."