News

A report of Wednesday's meeting of Shepway District Council's Scrutiny Committee (11 January) says a number of Tory members of the Conservative controlled council are now opposing the proposed parking scheme.

The Labour Party has written: "Plans to introduce on street parking charges at a cost of nearly £900,000 were scrutinised last night by members of Shepway District Council, as opposition to the parking strategy is increased by concerned business owners, members of the public and the Shepway Labour Party.

"On Wednesday night, members of the Scrutiny Committee analysed the proposal put forward by the Cabinet, concluding that it was ‘fundamentally flawed’. During the meeting councillors put forward their objections to the strategy, with Councillor Richard Grundy advising that “we should listen to what our businesses and public are telling us” and “this will kill our shops”.

"John Stockham, former Councillor and Mayor of Folkestone, attended the meeting as a member of the public. “It was an absurd meeting. The Scrutiny Committee were unanimously against the parking proposal, yet officers from the Council were telling the Committee that they weren’t allowed to reject it! Well, what was the Scrutiny Committee for if they weren’t allowed to scrutinise and reject the strategy?”

"During the meeting the invited speakers and councillors were met by a mixed reception, with Folkestone Town Centre Manager, John Barber, receiving several rounds of applause during his speech, as he asked to see evidence from the cabinet for any congestion. He also drew comparisons between Wrexham and other towns where similar parking strategies had failed, querying whether Shepway District Council had thoroughly researched their proposal before making a decision. Councillors who raised objections to the strategy were also cheered.

“The public really owe a debt of gratitude to the Councillors who called for the strategy to be axed”, commented Labour Party Secretary Peter Wallace. “The Conservative Councillors Peter Gane, David Wimble and Richard Grundy, and People First Councillors Paul Marsh and Brian Copping were fantastic. They exposed all the flaws in this strategy; financially, fiscally, strategically this proposal is wrong. The Labour Party has been protesting against this parking strategy since September and I’m delighted that the Conservatives are now starting to show their opposition to it too.”

"Councillor Dearden was heckled and slow clapped during the evening by members of the public who were unhappy with his response to the concerns raised by the Committee. Claiming that people who were concerned about the strategy had not read it, he was heckled by members of the public shouting “rubbish” and “arrogant”. Councillor Paul Marsh also commented during the meeting that Councillor Dearden had heard the concerns raised by the public, though he wasn’t listening.

"The meeting concluded late in the evening, with the Scrutiny Committee unanimously deciding to advise the cabinet to either fundamentally change the proposal or drop it altogether. This comes after weeks of sustained pressure by the Shepway Labour Party, who organised a referenda on the issue and gathered 1,650 signatures on a petition.

“The support we’ve seen for our campaign has been overwhelming,” commented Councillor Ben Hart, “and I’m glad to see that every time the parking proposal comes under scrutiny, it is found to be flawed. I attended tonight as I am a Lydd Town Councillor as residents are worried about how this will affect them. We will continue to campaign, with businesses, the public and other parties, until the strategy is rejected entirely.”

"The Shepway Labour Party is advising members of the public write to their Councillor and Damian Collins MP, to voice their concerns about the proposal.

"The parking strategy is opposed by:

· Shepway Labour Party
· Shepway Liberal Democrats
· Members of the Folkestone & Hythe Conservative Party
· Damian Collins MP
· Shepway District Council’s Scrutiny Committee
· Folkestone Town Council
· Members of New Romney Town Council
· Members of Lydd Town Council
· Folkestone Town Centre Management
· The business community in Sandgate
· The business community in Folkestone (as surveyed by FTCM)
· 96.5% of participating voters of the three referenda held in Shepway
· 4,500 members of the public who signed one of four petitions

"The Shepway Labour Party is currently consulting businesses in Folkestone, Hythe, Sandgate, Lydd and New Romney, to hear what recommendations they have to improve their town. The report will be finalised and published on the Labour Party website, www.rmh-labour.org.uk, in February."

©Hawkinge Gazette and Channel Coast News 2012