A CALL has been made for free car parking for shoppers and rates holidays for independent retailers to be considered to breathe life back into Halesowen town centre.

Councillor David Vickers said areas of the town had “no soul” and a range of measures were needed to encourage people back.

But as well as economic ills, the Halesowen South Conservative blamed 1960s planners for “destroying a beautiful market town.”

He said: “When I first came here in 1967 - for a day - it was a beautiful market town but when I came back in 1972 it had lost everything and we don’t want that to happen again.”

Cllr Vickers was speaking following Dudley Council’s cabinet approval for public consultation to start in January on preferred options for the Halesowen Area Action Plan, which will guide development of the town from 2013 to 2016.

He said the few historic buildings that remain, such as the George pub and the mayor’s parlour, must be preserved and that new building had to be considered very carefully.

Cllr Vickers said the council should also review car parking charges, which although he recognised the revenue supported many services, he acknowledged they were universally unpopular.

He bemoaned the demise of the independent retailer which gave the town character and suggested new businesses could be attracted by offering them a rates-free period.

“Anything that will encourage people back into the town is a good thing,” he said, adding: “We will have to work hard, but I’m sure we can do something.”

People will have the chance to have their say about how the town centre should be developed and what amenities and infrastructure it should have during the consultation.

It is hoped a ‘publication’ stage document will be put before the cabinet next June for approval for a final round of public consultation and formal adoption by the council in July 2013.