A PARLIAMENTARY debate into the future of Britain’s high streets will be held next week, days after Sunday parking charges were introduced in Enfield Town.

Enfield North MP Nick de Bois a debate in the House of Commons earlier this afternoon, after charges largely the same as weekday prices to park in the town centre’s car parks and pay-and-display bays were introduced earlier this week.

Traders and MPs hit out at the plan after it was revealed by the Enfield Independent last month, just after an independent review by retail expert Mary Portas into the future of high streets recommended “affordable town centre car parking”.

Mr de Bois asked Leader of the House Sir George Young to grant “a debate on why Enfield's Labour council has persisted with massive increases in parking charges, including the introduction of Sunday parking, against the wishes of shopkeepers and church-goers”.

He added: “With Brookfield Shopping Centre a short drive away, our high street shops need controlled free parking in order to compete with this and other out-of-town shopping centres.”

Tuesday's debate in Parliament will look more broadly at the recommendations from Ms Portas’ report, but a key feature of it will be parking charges by local councils.

Councillor Chris Bond, cabinet member for environment, said last month that the plan was “designed to reduce congestion and on-street parking, encourage alternative forms of travel to the town centre and increase turnover of parking spaces”.

Research carried out by the council claimed that the impact of the changes were “minimal or non-existent”.