Free church parking dubbed discrimination

Free parking for churchgoers in Woking, Surrey is being challenged in the courts. The National Secular Society has begun a legal fight against Woking Borough Council's policy of offering free parking to worshippers on Sundays.

The society claimed the current policy was direct discrimination on the grounds of religion and belief and that it contravened the Equality Act.



Keith Porteous Wood, executive director of the NSS, said: "The equal treatment of all, regardless of belief or non-belief, is a key secular principle.

"We have launched this challenge to preferential treatment of worshippers because it is neither legitimate nor lawful for local government to subsidise the activities of any particular religion and belief group. It would be fairer if the council either charged worshippers for parking, as they do everyone else, or provided free parking for all."