The Labour Party in Shepway are celebrating today after 96.5% of participants voted ‘no’ to the introduction of any new parking charges in the local parish polls.

Shepway District Council’s proposal to to replace free on street parking spaces with pay and display meters has been rejected.

Dave Murphy, resident of Hythe and local Town Crier, voted no in the referendum as he is worried about the effect parking charges will have on his town.

“This will kill off the centre of Hythe and I feel sorry for the people who have just set up businesses in Hythe and they're getting the rub of the green. I voted on Thursday to prove a point that Shepway Council are wrong to do this,” he said.

Following on from the result the Labour Party are now asking residents and business owners to write to their local Councillors and Damian Collins MP to demand Shepway District Council act upon to the result of the referenda. The Labour Party have also asked the Council to withdraw their £75,000 consultation, after three separate polls have conclusively revealed the overwhelming majority of people are against the Council’s proposal.

John Barber, Town Centre Manager, conducted a survey of businesses in Folkestone, with 97% of owners worried the parking charges would adversely affect their business. In October a petition was initiated by the Labour Party, which received over 2,000 signatures from members of the public, resulting in 97% of people voicing opposition to the council’s new proposals.

“The Council have to listen to the people of Shepway”, Peter Wallace, Labour Party Secretary, commented after the result. “Three separate surveys have now shown that the overwhelming majority of people want to keep free parking in their town. Businesses know it, residents know it and now the Council know it. If they want to be re-elected they need to act in the interests of the people who voted for them and listen to the result of the referenda.”

The Labour Party have said they are delighted with the turnout of residents on a dark, rain soaked evening, and would like to thank the thousands of people who turned out despite the weather, to cast their vote.

Former Mayor and Labour Party organiser, John Stockham, has begun writing to residents to thank them for turning out, he said: “The queues of people we saw on Thursday night were amazing; battling through the rain to get to their polling station. We, the Labour Party, can’t thank the people of Shepway enough for tweeting, emailing, handing out leaflets, putting up posters, donating money, volunteering their time and voting. The community spirit has been overwhelming."

The Labour Party have said they are delighted with the turnout, proving the bad weather, limited voting time, confusion over polling stations and lack of postal votes could not change the overwhelmingly clear result.

They have stated they will continue to campaign for the rejection of the parking proposal, building on from the success of the parish referenda.

Folkestone Lib Dem campaigner Darren Briddock said: "The people have spoken - and delivered a massive kick in the teeth to the Conservative's parking plans for Shepway. Local people do not want to pay to park to shop. They do not want to pay to park outside their homes.

"The plans are a disgrace, Local people have seen through them, and it's time they were withdrawn and for Shepway Council to apologise for even suggesting them. The proposals author Malcolm Dearden should resign in the morning,"

Folkestone West and Sandgate County Councillor Tim Prater said: "It was a wet and cold night. Despite that, with no official poll card reminders and no postal votes, thousands of people have gone out to register their protest against the Tory parking plans.

"The results are clear and decisive, and the Conservatives need to take them to heart and change their plans. It's time for them to stop proposing new charges and instead support local people and local businesses."

The Questions:

1. Do you support Shepway District Council's parking proposals to introduce parking charges for Folkestone and the rest of Shepway?

2. Do you agree that if the proposed Shepway District Council parking strategy is imposed on the residents of Folkestone that as a minimum Shepway District Council make available one free parking permit per residence and the first hour of a motorist's parking session at any on street pay and display space is free?


The Results:

* Folkestone parking poll Question 1 result: No 1744, Yes 72.
* Folkestone parking poll Question 2 result: No 557, Yes 1145

* Hythe parking poll Question 1 result: No 834, Yes 25
* Hythe parking poll Question 2 result: No 282, Yes 548

* Sandgate parking poll Question 1 result: No 535, Yes 14
* Sandgate parking poll Question 2 result: No 129, Yes 402


The turnouts were 16.3% in Sandgate, 7.3% Hythe and Folkestone 5.45%.

Hawkinge Gazette and Channel Coast News 2011©