“ The issue is very simply financial. The council makes money from those spaces and doesn't want to give up that revenue as it is cash strapped. It can't help traders, becuase it can't help itself. The statement about would the society support an increase in council tax is the highlighter. The council wants that money, despite the fact that this is not supposed to be what councils do. Councils do do it and we all know it. It's another one of those things you can't mention in modern Britain..... ”