30 minutes free parking across Brentwood, introduced by the Conservatives is under threat from the new Lab / Lib coalition running Brentwood Council.
In a shock announcement, the Chairman of the new Business and Town Centre Panel gave a warning that the free period would need to be reviewed as it is losing the Council money.
At the same time, a money grabbing nighttime parking tax was also pushed through on the Lib Dem Chairman's casting vote with Conservatives opposing the proposal.
Conservative Spokesman for Business and the Town Centre, Chris Hossack said, "This is bad news for the Town. We brought in the free parking to encourage people to shop locally and support small businesses and now the new administration seemingly want to do away with it. At the same time, the new nighttime parking tax will be disastrous for local residents, with drivers and night revellers parking in residential side streets to avoid the charges, blocking residents' parking and pushing cars dangerously onto yellow lines. The new coalition are fooling themselves and local residents if they think that revenues raised by nighttime parking will be used to reduce shoppers' daytime parking charges. I do not believe with the £14,000 proposed to even implement the pilot scheme, that the project will even ‘wash its own face’ let alone make a sufficient profit for reinvestment’’.
With parking restrictions finishing at 6pm in many roads around the Town Centre, there is concern that people will park in residential streets to avoid paying, causing mayhem for residents, unable to find a space to park after work.
Will Russell, councillor for the town centre ward of Brentwood West added, " This is another example of ill thought out policy by the Lab/Lib Coalition now running the Council. There is nothing in their proposals which will benefit Brentwood; just higher parking charges and problems for residents. They need to look again and reconsider what they're doing."
ENDS
For more information, please contact Chris Hossack: 07538 101212