Maidstone Conservatives drop parking bombshell equivalent to 12% on council tax

11.57.00pm GMT Mon 24th Nov 2008

Liberal Democrats in Maidstone have reacted with astonishment and anger to the shock announcement that Conservative controlled Maidstone Borough Council is to charge people to park in their own road and to introduce charges for Sunday Parking in the Town Centre.

Free Residents Parking Permit schemes have proved to be a popular method of helping residents get parking spaces near their own homes and free Sunday town Centre parking is a help to town centre traders. However, the Council has announced plans to charge for Residents Parking Permits and for Sunday parking in the town.

The move to charge residents £25 for the first residents permit is equivalent to a massive 12% increase in Maidstone Borough Council Tax.

Leader of the Lib Dems on the Council Cllr Fran Wilson said:

"This is a bombshell. Local people are already feeling the effects of what is now a major economic downturn. Now, the Council is to charge them for parking in their own roads. On top of that, local traders will be devastated at the news that charges are to be brought in for Sunday town centre parking."

Cllr Tony Harwood, shadow Cabinet member for the Environment said:

"This is a Tory stealth tax plain and simple. It is just another way of raising money from hard pressed Council Tax payers. Residents will get absolutely nothing back in return. The extra funds raised will be used to fund the Council budget which is sliding out of control. The Conservatives are wasting money on grandiose projects and are hitting local people in the pocket when they can least afford it."

Cllr Wilson added:

"The Conservatives did not mention ANY of these proposals in their election campaign in May in the areas of Bridge Ward, Fant Ward, High Street Ward, North Ward, East Ward and other areas near the town centre that will be hardest hit. How can they look local people in the eye now. This sort of behaviour is politically dishonest. The entire Lib Dem team in Maidstone will campaign to have these proposals overturned."

Related Link:

Fight the Parking Bombshell campaign