Seaford Lib Dems slam Tory parking plot

11.14.14am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 21st Mar 2007

Lib Dems totally oppose the Tory parking scheme.

Seaford Lib Dems have succeeded in getting the Tory County Council to shelve their parking plans and come up with new proposals. At a packed meeting organised by the Town Council, speaker after speaker slammed the plans as punitive and unworkable.

"The plans were half-baked and potentially damaging to the town," says Seaford central councillor Pat Bennett. "There were real concerns that the plans would just end up penalising town centre residents whilst providing no real benefits."

Working with Seaford Chamber of Commerce, the Town Council has put forward alternative proposals which the County Council is now considering. Seaford councillor, Ralph Taylor, has raised this at Lewes District Council and has asked that LDC look at their parking charges to encourage greater use of the car parks which the District Council controls.

Local campaigner Bob Sinclair, who lives on the edge of the proposed Controlled Parking Zone 1 points out that the County's plans would have pushed the parking problem out of the town centre into the surrounding area, says: "The Tories said they were consulting residents, but they said that about the Newhaven incinerator. 16,000 opposed it, 5 supported it. Now, the County Council has pushed it through - that's the Tories' idea of a consultation."

"The parking issue is a good example of Lib Dem councillors working with local residents and local businesses to speak up for Seaford and stop the crazy proposals of a Tory County Council which is arrogant and out of touch," says County Councillor Jon Freeman.