Shepway Parking Proposals for Granville Parade & Castle Road areas: Sandgate Says No

Shepway District Council have started a consultation on proposals to introduce a Residents Parking Permit scheme in Castle Road, Granville Parade, Granville Road East, Granville Parade West, Lachlan Way, Lister Way and Parade Road.

They are proposing to limit parking in these roads to two hours for non-permit holders. This restriction will be in place 8am-8pm EVERY day of the year including weekends and bank holidays. Only residents and businesses based in the roads named above will be able to get permits.

• Residents not living in those roads will not be able to get a permit, and will not be able to park in those roads for longer than 2 hours a day.

• Businesses not based in those roads will not be able to get a permit for their businesses. Customers of businesses will not be able to get a permit.

• Any Sandgate resident, business owner, business user or visitor to the area that currently park in those areas will, if these proposals are agreed, be banned from doing so for longer than 2 hours in any day.

This new parking scheme could be in place as early as June, depending on the results of their consultation which closes on May 16^th.

Sandgate Parish Council have called for the help of local residents to stop these proposals.

Chairman of Sandgate Parish Council Robert Bliss says:

"Shepway Council's proposals for parking in the Granville Parade and Castle Road areas will damage our village. If you drive and live locally, they WILL effect you.

"Since Sandgate Parish Council first heard of the proposals, we have repeatedly asked Shepway to STOP these proposals. There are clearly parking problems in Sandgate, and we are always pushing to get action to address them. But in our view these proposals do not address them in an even vaguely acceptable way, and will prove disastrous for local businesses and residents who depend on the availability of free parking in those roads.

"Sandgate Parish Council is unanimously against the proposals to introduce Parking Permits in these roads. We will continue to make that clear to Shepway District Council. But that is not enough. We need all local residents to make their view clear as well to stop these proposals being pushed through by the District Council."

Every local resident who is opposed to the introduction of a parking permit scheme is being asked to urgently email Shepway District Council to say so.

To object, send an email containing your name and address stating why you oppose the "Revised parking and waiting restrictions in the 'Sandgate East Parking Zone'" to traffic.orders@shepway.gov.uk. If you copy your message to Sandgate Parish Council at sandgateparish@tiscali.co.uk they are counting the number of objections being sent. Please ensure your email arrives before 4pm on 16^th May.

You may also wish to copy your emails to the Leader of Shepway Council david.monk@shepway.gov.uk and Cabinet Member for Parking malcolm.dearden@shepway.gov.uk.

If you do not have email, you can complete an objection form at Sandgate Library during opening hours and the Parish Council will ensure it is submitted to Shepway District Council before the close of the consultation. Alternatively you can download an objection form, complete and post your written objections directly to Shepway District Council (Parking orders), Civic Centre, Castle Hill Avenue, Folkestone CT20 2QY

Sandgate Parish Councillor Tim Prater says:

"If you oppose these proposals, please make sure you object before the deadline. Limiting parking to 2 hours, especially in Granville Parade, will be a nightmare for the residents of other local roads that use it for parking, and ruinous for our local businesses. We can't let it happen.

"Your Parish Council is united in opposition to Shepway's crazy scheme. To maximise our chances of killing this plan, we need everyone who objects to make that clear as soon as possible."