Ashby councillors fear the loss of 17 car park spaces at the new Co-op store in Market Street will have a knock on effect for town centre businesses.

Monday night's Ashby de la Zouch Town Council planning committee meeting heard details of its objection to the plan which was initially raised last month.

The council is to send a letter to North West Leicestershire District Council making their concerns known.

Central England Co-op announced plans to vacate its current store at the other end of Market Street earlier this year.

The move would see it occupy the former New Look shop building which the Co-op already owns.

At first, Ashby councillors had no objections to the plans as it returned the site to its former use as a supermarket.

Initially, plans for parking and access at the rear of the building were considered acceptable.

But then it emerged that a total of 17 public parking spaces would be lost as a result of the Co-op moving in.

You can read that article HERE.

Now councillors have given a more detailed explanation of their objections - and said the town centre could suffer just as it is beginning to recover from lockdown.

Cllr Dan Harrison pointed out that the loss of parking at the Royal Hotel has already made difficult in the town.

He said: "If we think of the Royal, that's a huge loss, now here's another 17.

"I know we have North Street but it's giving with one hand, and taking back almost twice as much with the other.

"I have said to the County Council we need a bit of help with this.

"But it's the same virtual use with lorries coming in and out delivering goods."

Cllr Mike Ball added: "It means another 17 cars stuck on the road with nowhere to park, and that will negatively impact highway safety.

"We have a big problem brewing in the town as we get back on our feet after the pandemic.

"The town will be buzzing with businesses up on their feet again - but where are they going to park?

"We're kissing goodbye to 17 spaces.

"We have to go back and say it's not reasonable.

"I don't think we should give the fight up so easily.

"Maybe we should get the Royal car park open again - it can accommodate well over 100 vehicles.

"The district council have to make the decision but we need to make our feelings known, and strongly."

But Cllr Mary Tuckey highlighted the potential long term effects of allowing car parking spaces to be taken away.

She said: "What bothers me is that, all over the country, town centres are trying to regenerate their high streets.

"We have some quite vibrant businesses in the town and if people cannot park, they will not come into Ashby. They will avoid it.

"Therefore, the livelihood of our shopkeepers are in jeopardy.

"You might think that's a bit extreme, actually it isn't.

"We all know how frustrating it is, if you can't park, you just drive straight through.

"And they don't bother coming back again.

"If the district council could help with re-opening the Royal car park, that would be a big step towards resolving a lot of our problems.

"We have a lot of events coming up which people enjoy - but if they can't get into the town to enjoy them, the they won't come.

"There are all sorts of knock-on effects, I think losing 17 car parking spaces is a serious matter."

Cllr Graham Allman added: "We all know that once it's gone, it's gone.

"There's not a hope in hell that you'll get it back again.

"We'll drive the heart out of our market town - the trade will die.

"Who's fault is that going to be? Look around the table."