AN MP launched a scathing attack on Northwich’s Labour Party candidates in Parliament after they organised a petition against car park charges in town.

Now the Labour group will write to the Speaker of the House of Commons to demand an apology from Weaver Vale MP Graham Evans.

Mr Evans used the pre-recess debate in the House of Commons to slam Labour’s ‘shameless scaremongering’ campaign about parking fees.

“In Northwich in my constituency it remains free to park,” he said.

“Conservative councillors have made it crystal clear that it will remain free to park.

“The local Labour candidates for the election this May, however, have been going round running a misinformation campaign, trying to convince local businesses and residents that the only way to keep parking free is to vote Labour.

“Despite being criticised for shameless scaremongering and being asked to apologise and clarify the situation, Labour has carried on pursuing every dirty trick in the book in its attempt to get a footing back in the town after being wiped out a the local elections of 2008.”

Mr Evans said that some traders had told him they were thinking about leaving Northwich because of the rumours of parking charges.

He added: “Labour’s reckless scaremongering campaign is now at risk of hurting our high streets and putting jobs in danger.

“It is important for the Labour candidates involved in this campaign to come out and apologise immediately.”

The petition, which attracted more than 1,200 signatures, was launched in January after Clr Mike Jones, leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWAC), told Northwich Town Council that although he was against parking fees, he thought they could be a solution to the ‘problem’ of commuters parking in town to catch the train.

Weaverham man Brian Jamieson, from the Labour group, said: “I’m absolutely staggered.

“We’re going to write to the Speaker because we want an apology for the people of Northwich – why should Graham Evans say we’ve done things we haven’t done?

“We never said there was going to be charges – Mr Evans has completely misrepresented the consultation petition signed by 1,200 Northwich residents in Parliament.

“It is he who should apologise to the people of Northwich and the House of Commons for so openly misleadinging them.

“Mr Evans has obviously never seen our public petition, for the record it is worded: ‘A response to Cheshire West and Chester Council’s consultation on the possible introduction of charges on the council’s Northwich town centre car parks. I object to the introduction of car parking charges for Northwich town centre car parks’.

“Anyone would sign that petition.”

He added that shopkeepers were copying petition forms themselves in a bid to collect as many signatures as possible.