3,000 say no to plans to end free parking in Paddock Wood

MORE than 3,000 people have said no to plans that would spell the end for free parking in Paddock Wood.

A petition organised by the town's business association three weeks ago has had residents, shoppers and traders clamouring to register their objections against new payment plans thought up by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council.

The signatures have prompted the subject to be discussed by the whole borough council.

John Barsley, co-owner of department store Barsleys, said he was thrilled but not surprised by the response.

Speaking on behalf of Paddock Wood Business Association, he said: "We had a large response from parents whose children go to Paddock Wood Primary School.

"At the moment they can park in the east car park when they drop off or pick up their children and it's fine, but if they had to pay 20p twice daily to do that, it could have a knock-on effect with traffic around the school and Old Kent Road."

Currently, drivers in Paddock Wood enjoy two hours' free parking at both the pay-and-display sites in Commercial Road, but the council is considering scrapping this to make more money.

The council said the car parks took in just £4,579 last year, money that was swallowed up by running costs and wardens' wages.

Under the new proposals, people using the car parks would pay 20p for the first two hours.

On a website set up by the borough council to host public consultations, a further 180 people have objected to the proposals.

Mr Barsley added that introducing charges at a time when the Government was encouraging free parking was "bizarre".

The Paddock Wood campaign has gained support from neighbouring parishes including Lamberhurst, who called the new charges "madness".

In a bid to save its own free parking, Cranbrook Parish Council has already reluctantly increased its precept by 21 per cent.

The borough council's cabinet member responsible for parking, Brian Ransley, has suggested Paddock Wood does the same, but the idea was thrown out by town council chairman Ray Moon.