Andrew backs Wickham Market's plea to abolish on street parking charges

6.05.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Sat 17th May 2008

Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, Andrew Aalders-Dunthorne was today meeting residents and local business people in Wickham Market on a fact finding mission after concerns had been raised about the effect of recently imposed car park fees in the market town.

Andrew commented: "From my discussions it is clear that the people and visitors to Wickham Market are very much against this scheme, which has been imposed by Tory-lead Suffolk Coastal District Council."

Local community leaders have been urging the District Council to reconsider the implementation of charges, with an offer of local precept being used for the upkeep of the car parks. A local solution democratically agreed and supported by the community. To date Suffolk Coastal District Council has failed to respond.

With time limits now imposed on parking, local businesses are reporting a fall in takings almost universally. "There was once a milling about of people in the village centre, chatting and popping in and out of shops this has been replaced with a community possessed with clock-watching, rushing away and the subsequent fall in business for local traders," Andrew reported.

With Walk to School Week starting on the 19th May, another unforeseen effect of the car parking fees is that parents are now driving pupils to the school gates - causing an increase in traffic and congestion in a fairly narrow lane.

"Rather than parents parking on 'The Hill' the main shopping hub of Wickham Market and walking children down the lane to school they are now driving down the lane to avoid the fee and hassle of finding change and purchasing a ticket" added Andrew.

"When you weigh up the increased congestion on the school run, the loss of business for traders, the erosion of community and the undermining of local democracy. It is clear to me that the forced implementation of car parking charges in Wickham Market is madness. The Conservative run Suffolk Coastal District Council need to back local business and back our rural communities and abandon the scheme now," concluded Andrew.