LABOUR’S proposal to charge residents and commuters to park near Tilbury train station were challenged by Thurrock Conservatives at Wednesdays full Council.
Councillor Tom Kelly said “A few years ago the Council asked residents near the station if they wanted parking permits as they were experiencing some problems with commuter parking. The response from the consultation was a resounding “NO”. Now Labour are trying to sweeten the deal by offering local residents two free parking permits per household. However, commuters who drive and park at the station or resident using businesses there will be forced to pay to park.”
In 2012 the Labour-run council allocated £45,000 to implement a controlled parking zone in Tilbury. Letters to residents are due to be sent but Conservatives have learned that commuters will only find out about the plans from notices stuck to lampposts or if they see it in the local papers.
Cllr Kelly added “Labour will effectively be leaving commuters in the dark over their intentions, leaving them free to tax Tilbury commuters as well as employees and shoppers at local businesses. It is terrible hypocrisy when at the beginning of January Labour were outside train stations handing out leaflets highlighting their anger over of commuter fares rises. Yet less than three weeks later, they are resurrecting plans to tax hard working people to get to work. It would be far better for the Labour-run Council to work with c2c and use the £45,000 to create parking places to ease the problems for residents living near the station, rather than reverting back to type and taxing local residents.”
Why should the Council Tax payer provide free parking spaces for commuters? Is Cllr Kelly pledging a future Conservative run Council will provide free parking for Tilbury C2C commuters? And the Conservatives in Ockendon have worked for at least 6 years to try and foist parking permits on the residents living around Ockendon Railway Station.
There are controlled parking areas around most railway stations in every art of the country to prevent commuters clogging up roads – should Tilbury be exempt?
I look forward to the Conservative Manifesto for the local elections in May promising a free car park for C2C rail passengers in Tilbury.
Ed the commuters in Ockendon have alaways had free parking and still have even with the FREE permits for residents , so I think the “Conservatives in Ockendon” have achieved a good result , dont you? And the story I see here should be similar” dont charge the commuters to park in a controlled zone but ensure they dont encroach on residents” spaces .
I live on the flowers estate where the new system of parking is coming . As I do not drive I will not be eligible for any parking permits but will have to pay for my family and friends to visit. I am 80 years of age and have to rely on family for my care. So that means I pay about £12 per month YET commuters can still park for nothing along Tamarisk Rd. I have lived here for over 40 years and have always experienced problems where drivers openly broke the law..when I queried this I was told there was no enforcement officers available. So are they going to magic some enforcement officers to carry out empty promises or will be left paying to park in our own close whilst commuters still get free parking in the areas near Flowers Estate .. This is one big con. There are others in the same position as myself who rely on others to get their shopping and to visit to give them care.