DECENTRALISATION Minister Greg Clark, who hails from the North-East, has announced that the “war on motorists” is over. It is an appealing declaration in the midst of fuel price hikes and the rise in VAT.

Measures include allowing councils to set lower car parking charges to attract shoppers into town centres. It is a reversal of the previous policy to instruct local authorities to set high charges to encourage the use of public transport and protect the environment.

With 2011 destined to be remembered as the year of austerity, town centre retailers will need all the support they can get. We, therefore, support the principle – but there is a large flaw in Mr Clark’s plan.

We do not know what parking fees are like in Cloud Cuckoo Land where he must live, but most councils – in the real world – see them as no more than a quick-fix to income generation.

Reducing car parking charges to boost the local economy is not going to happen – for the simple reason that it will leave an even bigger hole in council budgets.

Indeed, the reverse has happened since the enormity of public spending cuts began to dawn. Councils have increased car parking fees overnight in order to buy themselves some breathing space.

The notion of ending the war on motorists is an attractive one. But the bottom line is that, in most cases, car parking charges will remain an obstacle to town centres remaining competitive with out-of-town retail centres.