FRUSTRATED Labour councillors could "be absent" from a potential vote on free parking with some even suggesting they could vote against their own party on the issue.

Disgruntled Labour members of Newport council have been particularly concerned about the group’s lack of communication and handling of the issue, as our campaign to "Keep City parking Free" moves towards the end of its second week.

The Argus understands that some members have even considered taking the drastic step of voting against their own party when a motion comes before full council next week (Dec 18) such is their disappointment at how the issue has been handled.

Two Labour councillors, Tom Bond and Kate Thomas, have already publicly both criticised the decision.

In a Newport Council report discussing changes to free parking, dated November 23, Cllr Thomas, said: "This measure will increase feelings that the council is introducing another ‘own goal’ to put people off using the centre."

In the same report Cllr Bond, said: "I think this change would give the impression from a user perspective that it’s free one day, not free the next - a bit all over the place.

"I think it would be better to take this back for further thought."

As we reported yesterday that more than 3,700 traders and shoppers across the city have already signed our petitions urging the council to reverse their decision to scrap free parking for the first two hours in council owned car parks.

Cabinet member for infrastructure, Ken Critchley, has still only provided his initial statement on the decision, made more than a fortnight ago.

In it he describes the two hours free parking scheme as "unsustainable" and said: "Free parking costs the council almost £1 million a year which is no longer sustainable at a time when central budgets are facing significant cuts and we face a funding gap next year of £8 million.

"To continue to offer free parking would adversely impact on other services such as street cleaning, waste collection and road repairs."