The New Shepway Parking Strategy: Charge!

The long trailed Shepway Parking Strategy has been released and agreed by Conservative Shepway District Council Cabinet. As long predicted by the Liberal Democrats in Shepway, the plan proposes new on-street parking charges in many locations across the district.

Lib Dem Folkestone West County Councillor Tim Prater said:

"As the Liberal Democrats had been predicting for years, this strategy seeks to put in place new on-street parking charges across Shepway. In Sandgate, for example, they are seeking to put in charges on the seafront, Esplanade and short-term pay-and-display parking on the High Street, Military Road, Enbrook Road and other roads.

"Shops in Sandgate High Street are already feeling the pinch - any new parking scheme must not make life more difficult for them, and should be flexible enough to support the range of businesses in the area. Some will want 20 minute bays, some, such as hairdressers and restaurants, longer stays. Residents also need fully taking into account: there are many in Sandgate without their own parking spaces, unlike some other areas in Shepway, and the needs of these areas will be different.

"One thing that Shepway DO seem to have finally listened on is the shocking low levels of use of our car parks - their official figures show that average car park usage is just 10% - some 90% of car park spaces are empty. That's a disgrace which we've been talking about for years, and there are at least some proposals to cut car parking charges and make them more flexible depending on location which make a lot of sense.

"There will be real anger at the introduction of charging where there is none at the moment. Shepway should be considering free short-term parking, reduced price or free residents permits where they have no other parking alternative and retaining and extending the residents permit for off-street parking. Why not extend that permit to cover on-street parking too, and allow residents to pay for it monthly, alongside payments for Council Tax? Cheaper permits for businesses in on-street parking areas without their own parking?

"I hope the Shepway Council are going to take consultation on this plan seriously, and not just treat it as an annoyance and refuse to take sensible suggestions into account. We need to see fuller details of the plans for each area, such as the time period of restrictions and eligibility for permits, and have a meaningful consultation with businesses and residents about what will work in their area."