Lab-Ind Alliance hike parking charges across the Borough
The Labour-Independent Administration’s decision to introduce weekend and evening car parking charges in Billericay and Wickford is a direct threat to our high streets, local businesses, and residents.
Cllr George Jeffery (Con, Wickford Park), supported by Cllr Alex Myers (Con, Castledon & Crouch), tabled a motion to reverse this damaging policy.
Councillor Jeffery said: “Introducing parking charges will deal a major blow to our high streets, deter visitors to our towns, harm the new Saturday market in Wickford, and penalise residents using the fitness centre and swimming pool.
This is nothing more than a stealth tax on shoppers and businesses at a time when we should be supporting recovery, not making it more expensive to visit our town centres.”
“Introducing parking charges will deal a major blow to our high streets" ~ Cllr George Jeffery
This motion gave the Council the opportunity to put local people first and scrap this ill-thought-out plan.
Councillor Myers added: “It is very disappointing to see the proposed changes through the Labour Administration’s budget to include car parking charges on weekends and evenings across Wickford and Billericay town centres and certain charges for country parks like Lake Meadows and Wat Tyler being introduced.
This will seriously affect the high street’s trading, night-time economies in both towns, and maybe even health and wellbeing with the local gyms in each town and the open spaces in our parks, but in particular Wickford Market on a Saturday. A lot of work has been done to support and entice visitors to it.
This will drive away custom to the high street, and with no guarantee it will deliver income to the Council. It is a ridiculous way to try to raise revenue when our towns are struggling.”
Despite being given this opportunity to put local people first, back our high streets, protect our parks, and scrap this ill-conceived plan, Basildon Labour and their so-called 'Independent' backers, along with the Wickford Independents, passed a wrecking amendment to push ahead with the hike in parking charges.