By . Inderdeep Bains . PUBLISHED: . 10:33 EST, 3 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 01:46 EST, 4 June 2013 . Letting churchgoers park free of charge in town centre car parks on Sundays discriminates against non-believers, a secular campaigner claims. Keith Porteous Wood is suing a local council over the scheme, which applies to individuals of all faiths. Mr Porteous Wood, of the National Secular Society, argues that by allowing free parking for those attending churches in Woking, Surrey, the local council is contravening the Equality Act. Discrimination claim: Keith Porteous Wood, Executive Director of the National Secular Society says it is unfair that churchgoers get free parking permits in Woking, Surrey, while he still had to pay £3 . Free parking pass: One of the permits issued to worshippers in Woking by churchers, with the backing of the council . ‘The equal treatment of all, . regardless of belief or non-belief, is a key secular principle,’ he . said. ‘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 . or provided free parking for all.’ After receiving a number of . complaints from local residents, Mr Porteous Wood drove to Woking on . Sunday April 14 and paid £3 to park in the Heathside Crescent council . town centre car park for more than two hours. Those at church services . parked in the same car park for free. Mr Porteous Wood’s ‘less favourable . treatment’ was because of religious belief, his lawyers argue in what . will be a test case for local authorities all over the country. Unholy row: Woking Borough Council's lawyers advised that the free permits could be justified . Free parking: Woking United Reformed Church has been issuing free parking passes to worshippers to use on a Sunday morning . They point out that local churches have been provided with ticket validating machines or parking permits. Woking Borough Council confirmed it had received the notice of legal action from NSS’s lawyers. Council official Peter Bryant . defended the free parking, saying that faith communities play an . important role in voluntary work and promoting social inclusion. He added: ‘The council took legal . advice. It was advised that it amounted to indirect discrimination, but . could be justified on the basis that it was a proportionate means of . achieving a legitimate aim.’ Woking United Reform Church gives out council-backed parking permits to churchgoers valid between 9.30am and 1pm on Sundays. The issue of free parking for worshippers has become increasingly contentious as more councils scrap free Sunday parking to pursue extra revenue. The charges were initially denounced as a 'tax on worshippers' and a number of local authorities set up 'worship parking permit' schemes. Row: Woking United Reform Church, in Woking, Surrey, issue the free parking passes in a scheme backed by the council . However, there are mixed feelings about the case in Woking. Office worker Karen Vincent, 44, said: ‘I am not a churchgoer myself but I think that it is very sad that the Secular Society feels it is necessary to take this costly action. ‘No doubt the council will incur a large legal bill defending its decision. I am sure that as well as the churches, the council helps other organisations with subsidised parking.’ But businessman Mark Robertson, 57, supports the challenge. He said: ‘If you are going to give one group of people free parking then you need to give it to them all. ‘This is completely unfair. Why should I be discriminated against because I am an atheist?’
Churchgoers are allowed to park in Woking, Surrey, for free on Sundays .
The policy costs taxpayers an estimated £41,000-a-year .
Church gives out council-backed parking permits to worshippers .
By . Inderdeep Bains . PUBLISHED: . 10:33 EST, 3 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 01:46 EST, 4 June 2013 . Letting churchgoers park free of charge in town centre car parks on Sundays discriminates against non-believers, a secular campaigner claims. Keith Porteous Wood is suing a local council over the scheme, which applies to individuals of all faiths. Mr Porteous Wood, of the National Secular Society, argues that by allowing free parking for those attending churches in Woking, Surrey, the local council is contravening the Equality Act. Discrimination claim: Keith Porteous Wood, Executive Director of the National Secular Society says it is unfair that churchgoers get free parking permits in Woking, Surrey, while he still had to pay £3 . Free parking pass: One of the permits issued to worshippers in Woking by churchers, with the backing of the council . ‘The equal treatment of all, . regardless of belief or non-belief, is a key secular principle,’ he . said. ‘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 . or provided free parking for all.’ After receiving a number of . complaints from local residents, Mr Porteous Wood drove to Woking on . Sunday April 14 and paid £3 to park in the Heathside Crescent council . town centre car park for more than two hours. Those at church services . parked in the same car park for free. Mr Porteous Wood’s ‘less favourable . treatment’ was because of religious belief, his lawyers argue in what . will be a test case for local authorities all over the country. Unholy row: Woking Borough Council's lawyers advised that the free permits could be justified . Free parking: Woking United Reformed Church has been issuing free parking passes to worshippers to use on a Sunday morning . They point out that local churches have been provided with ticket validating machines or parking permits. Woking Borough Council confirmed it had received the notice of legal action from NSS’s lawyers. Council official Peter Bryant . defended the free parking, saying that faith communities play an . important role in voluntary work and promoting social inclusion. He added: ‘The council took legal . advice. It was advised that it amounted to indirect discrimination, but . could be justified on the basis that it was a proportionate means of . achieving a legitimate aim.’ Woking United Reform Church gives out council-backed parking permits to churchgoers valid between 9.30am and 1pm on Sundays. The issue of free parking for worshippers has become increasingly contentious as more councils scrap free Sunday parking to pursue extra revenue. The charges were initially denounced as a 'tax on worshippers' and a number of local authorities set up 'worship parking permit' schemes. Row: Woking United Reform Church, in Woking, Surrey, issue the free parking passes in a scheme backed by the council . However, there are mixed feelings about the case in Woking. Office worker Karen Vincent, 44, said: ‘I am not a churchgoer myself but I think that it is very sad that the Secular Society feels it is necessary to take this costly action. ‘No doubt the council will incur a large legal bill defending its decision. I am sure that as well as the churches, the council helps other organisations with subsidised parking.’ But businessman Mark Robertson, 57, supports the challenge. He said: ‘If you are going to give one group of people free parking then you need to give it to them all. ‘This is completely unfair. Why should I be discriminated against because I am an atheist?’
worshippers for parking . or provided free aim.’ Woking United Reform Church gives out council-backed parking permits to churchgoers valid between 9.30am and 1pm on Sundays. The Woking United Reform Church, in Woking, Surrey,