ACROSS East Lothian, families are struggling with the cost of living crisis, which is resulting in record high prices to fill up our cars.

This makes it all the more worrying that Labour and the SNP are thinking of plans to charge motorists to park in town centres like Haddington and Dunbar.

Nationally, the SNP Transport Minister has recently revealed that there will be no limit on the amount councils can charge for workplace parking permits as part of a new scheme which will allow councils to charge businesses for the use of workplace parking spaces by their employees.

This now leaves many businesses in Edinburgh and East Lothian wondering whether at some stage local councils will clear the way for charges. Any attempts to introduce the levy here or in Edinburgh would be a hammer blow to hardworking people and businesses.

And at the very same time, Labour-led East Lothian Council are now consulting on town centre parking charges at a time when inflation has soared to above nine per cent and our town centres are struggling.

READ MORE: Town centre parking charges: East Lothian Council approves consultation

Instead of encouraging people to support small independent businesses by shopping locally, we see East Lothian Council continuing to approve out-of-town retail centres while disincentivising people from shopping on the high street.

These are the wrong priorities and they target small local businesses and hardworking people who are struggling to get by.

There are alternatives to charges which ensure parking can be managed. Anyone who has visited Alnwick, for example, will have seen the disc scheme which ensures people do not overstay in short-term parking spaces.

The future of free parking in East Lothian is a big issue and I hope as many residents and businesses as possible will respond to the consultation on charges.