New parking charges have been introduced at Waltham Forest Town Hall for local residents after 6pm.

 Until recently it was free to park for residents who wanted to attend meetings or events at the Town Hall in the evenings and experience local democracy in action.

 But new charges will affect community groups, as well as charities and local residents, who often attend council meetings in the evenings to input into consultations or be updated on the council’s work.

 Lib Dem Councillor Mahmood Hussain said:

 “As a local Liberal Democrat I believe that Labour have once again got their priorities wrong and are penalising local residents before finding savings elsewhere.

 “The Labour administration could reverse these charges for less than half the cost of their subsidies to the trade unions.

 “This makes our council meetings less transparent, less accessible and more expensive for local residents. Labour should think again.”