“Struggling” local businesses will “suffer” from a council decision to reduce the number of free Christmas parking days in the borough, it has been claimed.

Wokingham Borough Council leaders announced they would suspend parking charges for one day each in Wokingham and Woodley during Christmas events. But this is less than in previous years, when the council would make parking free for up to three Saturdays in the festive period.

Conservative opposition councillor Laura Blumenthal said on X – formerly Twitter – criticised the Liberal Democrat council leaders for 'removing free Christmas parking'.

She said: “Struggling local businesses are set to suffer further. The initiative was key to attracting shoppers and not losing them to other places.”

Under the plans, charges will be suspended in Wokingham on Sunday, November 26, for the Wokingham Winter Carnival – an event with fairground rides, street entertainment, a Santa’s Grotto and market stalls.

There will also be free parking at council car parks in Woodley on Sunday, December 3, for the Christmas Extravaganza – which will feature charity stalls, games and live entertainment.

The council said this would support businesses during the run-up to Christmas. But it said this should be seen as a “special and unique case” only.

Councillor Clive Jones – responsible for business – agreed to fund the free parking with £12,000 from a government economic support grant. He said the council would like to provide more free parking, but didn’t have the money.

He said: “We really would like to have been able to do more but there just isn’t the money to be able to do that.

“It’s a continuing problem of being the lowest funded – as far as government grant is concerned – unitary authority, which we’ve been for the last 14 years.”

He added: “I hope that the Winter Carnival in Wokingham and the Christmas Extravaganza in Woodley are both successful events.”