ORGANISERS report snowballing support for the Free after 3 parking campaign.

Independent politicians Jonathan Starkey, John Wilson and Henny Moore, teamed up earlier this month to promote a scheme where shoppers can leave their vehicles, free of charge, on town centre car parks after 3pm.

They reckon this would provide a major boost to flagging retail sales, helping both market traders, the Port Arcades and other shops.

A similar scheme, currently been trialled in neighbouring Chester, is proving a success and the man behind it, city centre co-ordinator Stephen Wundke, told the Pioneer last week he believed it would also prove to be a hit in Ellesmere Port.

The three Port campaigners are gathering signatures for a petition in support of the scheme, which they are due to hand in to the borough council early next month.

They report that this attracted another 200 names in the space of just three-quarters of an hour on Bank holiday Monday morning, bringing the latest tally to the 4,000 mark.

John Wilson said: “People were queueing up to sign. There is no doubt from the feedback that they are against the profits that car parking generates.”

It is believed the issue will be considered by the council in October.