Calls have been made for Carlisle city council car parks to be made free for all NHS workers, beyond the end of the Government's temporary scheme to make parking free for healthcare staff.

Labour Party Carlisle City Councillor for Denton Holme and Morton South, Chris Southward, said it was only right that the city council showed its appreciation for everything that NHS workers have done while facing Covid-19 on the frontline.

Raising the issue at this week's full council meeting, held on Tuesday, Mr Southward asked the Conservative Party's Nigel Christian, the council's portfolio holder for economy and transport, to consider the option of allowing the free parking concession for NHS workers to continue beyond the end of the Government's scheme, which it has recently announced will be coming to an end once the coronavirus crisis eases.

“Will the portfolio holder consider the option of allowing the free parking concession for the NHS workers to continue, across all the Council’s car parks in perpetuity?

"In this chamber we can do very little to affect the mindset of 'Cummings and co', but we can do a little better so that our local heroes can know that they are appreciated, and will not be forgotten and taken for granted again as soon as this ordeal is passed," Mr Southward said.

Mr Christian said that while the city council was immensely grateful for the continued efforts of NHS staff in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, it would not be practically achievable for the council to shoulder the administrative requirements of taking on such a scheme.

"The free parking offer for NHS staff is part of a Government scheme," Mr Christian said.

"Unfortunately, I don't think we could take it on ourselves.

"It's not so much the financial aspect of it, it's the practicality of how it would be achieved.

"Unfortunately I don't know how it would be possible for us to do it."

Mr Southward added that he was extremely disappointed in the Government's recent decision to also bring to an end the free car parking offer for NHS staff in hospital car parks.

“I read with dismay, if not almost disbelief, that the Government, having similarly applauded the NHS heroes throughout this awful time, last week decided to charge hospital workers for the use of hospital car parks.

"One would have difficulty making this up."