Shepway Council Leader Bliss apologises for "Offensive" Tory Leaflet in Sandgate

Shepway District Council Leader and Sandgate Councillor Robert Bliss has apologised to Folkestone West County Councillor Tim Prater for a recent Sandgate Conservative leaflet in which he was described as reporting Shepway plans for charging for Sandgate seafront parking plans as 'Prater Prattle'.

The Sandgate election leaflet, as part of the Conservative General Election campaign, said:

"Their most recent leaflet in Sandgate tells residents that 'Conservative Shepway Council are proposing the introduction of pay and display parking on Sandgate Esplanade in the next year'. It isn't true. They know it isn't true. In fact it's all a lot of Prater Prattle. So stop misleading residents and perhaps we'll stop telling the truth about you!""

In an email to Tim Prater, Cllr Bliss apologised, saying the "reference to 'Prater Prattle' which was I think offensive and I am sorry that was put in".

Lib Dem County Councillor Tim Prater said:

"I'm grateful to Cllr Bliss for his apology, but, as he well knows, Shepway Council have had plans for parking charges for Sandgate Seafront for some time - a report to discuss them was trailed in the December 2009 and January 2010 Council Forward Plans published under his name, and even in the Medium Term Financial Strategy put forward by and voted for Cllr Bliss and the Conservatives in February this year.

"The Medium Term Financial Strategy said clearly on Page 31 'Plans are also underway to investigate a parking scheme along the Sandgate seafront. This scheme should provide a greater turnover of spaces and more availability of spaces.

Whilst it is not possible to determine the level of income from this strategy it is intended that the scheme will as a minimum cover its costs.'

"Robert Bliss has shown some integrity in apologising for the abuse in his name in Conservative leaflets. He should also make a firm pledge to Sandgate residents that there will be no plans brought forward to introduce Sandgate seafront parking charges. New charges would only add to the pain of Shepway's disastrous decision to introduce parking charges at Castle Road car park, leading to that car park being almost empty much of the time and driving people away from local shops and businesses."