Labour councillors are trying for the second time in five months to introduce a free Saturday parking scheme in Sittingbourne town centre.

The Labour group on Swale Borough Council is calling for the scrapping of parking charges in Swale’s three town centres – Sittingbourne, Sheerness and Faversham – on Saturdays for a trial period of three months.

It will raise a motion when the full council meets today (Wednesday).

Labour previously called for free parking at a full council meeting in February but it was turned down.

It believes free Saturday parking will boost town centre business and can then be adopted on a permanent basis.

The group claims the council’s budget is supported by over £800,000 a year from profits made on parking, and this should be returned to drivers.

Cllr Ghlin Whelan, the group’s spokesman on highways and transport issues, said: “All the evidence is that free parking is leading to greater use of town centres.

“Car parking fees have contributed to the spiral of decline in smaller town centres.”

Council leader Cllr Andrew Bowles (Con) said: “I am not sure it would be the best use of our reserves because it would cost quite a lot of money.”