Reading West Conservatives were astonished to learn that Martin Salter, Labour MP for Reading West, is calling on Reading Borough Council and West Berkshire District Council to investigate a non-existent Conservative policy! The Labour MP has suggested that elected Conservatives are proposing a "massive increase in double yellow lines on every road a mile from Tilehurst station."

Jenny Rynn, Conservative Councillor for Kentwood, who together with local campaigner Tom Steele, is campaigning for lower parking charges at Tilehurst Railway Station, said: "This is another case of New Labour spin and misrepresentation. We have not put forward any plans of the nature Martin Salter refers to. We want to encourage more use of the station car park by commuters to make life easier for residents living near Tilehurst station, not force local residents off their own roads. Not content with making up their own bad policies Labour are now resorting to inventing policies for opposition parties!"

Laszlo Zverko, Councillor for Westwood commented: "Not only are these Labour allegations untrue but Labour has also managed to place me at Tilehurst Station at a time when I was not actually present. Labour deserves a prize for fiction, but not much else!"

Alok Sharma, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Reading West added: "It is unfortunate for local tax payers that the Labour MP for Reading West wants local councils to launch wasteful investigations concerning non-existent transport proposals. I would strongly urge Labour to focus instead on listening to the concerns of local people about Labour's one-way IDR plans. Disappointingly Labour has failed to heed calls for a full and fair consultation process on this very important issue - clearly demonstrating that Labour is not listening to the people."

Photo: Alok, Cllr Jenny Rynn and local campaigner, Tom Steele, get support from Shadow Transport Secretary in launching a campaign to lower station parking charges.