A call has been made to provide more car parking spaces in Ashby with the new Co-op store redevelopment set to go ahead.

Plans for the relocation of the supermarket from its present site in Market Street to the former New Look store, have been given the green light by North West Leicestershire District Council.

That is despite losing 17 car park spaces in South Street.

Last Monday's meeting of Ashby de la Zouch Town Council's planning committee considered other options to increase the amount of parking in the town.

It is a concern that has been raised in previous meetings, but despite councillors' objections to the Co-op's parking arrangements, the scheme is going ahead.

Now the Town Council is to write to the District Council to warn that a lack of parking will put people off coming in to Ashby.

Councillors have long called for action to be taken to re-open the Royal Hotel car park, and that was repeated once more at Monday's meeting.

Cllr Mike Ball said: "The effect of losing 17 car parking spaces - we can't take this lying down.

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"I think we should write to the district council in the strongest terms, saying we've already had the closure of the Royal Hotel car park.

"Now we're losing 17 prime spaces adjacent to Market Street. What is the District Council's plan to replace this parking?

"There are a number of options which they could take forwards.

"The Royal car park could be purchased for the town by the district and resurfaced.

"These opportunities won't be open for very much longer.

"If the district let it slip through their fingers, then this town will die through lack of parking."