Shepway's Potty Parking

Shepway Council are planning yet another raid on the pockets of local motorists. The Conservative budget for next year adds ANOTHER 10p per hour to parking charges, raising them to an eyewatering £1.20 an hour.

The increase comes despite some car parks in Shepway sitting almost empty, with motorists refusing to pay the parking fees. Analysis of annual income figures at one Shepway car park show that on average, less than 10% of spaces are being used.

Lib Dem Councillor Tim Prater proposed a plan to allow variable charges to get the best usage out of all Council car parks. Incredibly, the Conservatives voted DOWN the plan. Tim Prater said:

"Empty car parks are bad for businesses, residents and the Council. "To ignore the problem and hike charges across the board is madness."

Campaigner Darren Briddock added:

"What a way to run a Council. You need to set charges for car parks at a rate that gets people using them: simple."