Responding to calls by the Liberal Democrats on Northampton Borough Council for a public debate on the future of the town centre, Brian Binley says he would be "absolutely delighted" to take part.

He said, "I am very unhappy about councils of all political hues, which have done more to drive business and people out of town centres over the last 40 years than anything else.

"We've got high car parking charges, we have yellow lines all over, we have high rents and rates and we have small businesses with nowhere to operate."

Brian recently wrote an article in The Cobblers match programme saying Northampton Borough Council is "hell bent on doing all it can to hinder both the Cobblers and the Saints from fulfilling their ambitious plans for a successful future".

"This from an organisation whose planning department has, in many ways, been responsible for the demise of the town centre over the last 40 years. The Borough Council has driven local small businesses out of the town centre. Indeed, it has made it almost impossible for small retailers to set up and operate there."

The public debate will take place in March. Details are currently being finalised.

3rd March 2010