Time to review Labour’s parking chaos

The Conservative Group at Thanet District Council is calling for an immediate review of parking fees and practices by the District Council.

Conservative Group leader, Cllr Bob Bayford stated: 

‘Parking across the district is becoming one of the most frequent complaints from traders, residents, and visitors.  The review we started last autumn aimed simply to introduce a better scheme whereby all paid for the time they used (called linear parking); and local residents were aware where there were cheaper or, on Saturdays, free deals available to encourage trade in our high streets. When Labour assumed control, they took this idea and distorted it with political goals, ensuring that some areas were treated better than others, for example where they were dependent on independents to keep control of the council.’

Cllr Chris Wells, who drew up the principles of the original parking review added:

“The end result is that the 30% rise in on street parking fees in our high streets is killing rather than helping businesses, who are furious that 30p in every £ their customers put in parking meters represents a political bribe to keep a minority Labour administration in power.  A minority administration that has extended the charging time the public pay to park by 45%; and then quietly extended the opening hours of the Mill Lane car park in Margate, so Councillors and officers attending evening council meetings, do not have to pay the extra fees they have inflicted on the public.”

Cllr Bob Bayford concluded:  ‘This administration claims to be transparent and listening – so now they need to listen, admit they have got it wrong and review again, this time making all the details public.  Whatever your maths, an extended charging time of 45%; with on street parking up by 30%; can never mean an overall rise of 4% without something strange happening to the fees parkers pay.’