Your free parking could be scrapped

PADDOCK Wood has been given an ultimatum by the borough council – run the car parks yourself or we'll scrap your free parking.

Councillor Brian Ransley, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council cabinet member responsible for parking, revealed that the town's two car parks are running at a loss and said action must be taken.

Currently the first two hours are free at both its pay and display sites in Commercial Road, but the council is considering scrapping this policy.

Mr Ransley said car parks in the town took in less than £5,000 a year, an income swallowed up by business rates and wardens' wages.

In a no-nonsense message to Paddock Wood Town Council, Mr Ransley told the Courier: "Our requirement is that we no longer have to pay for the running of car parks in rural towns. Either we impose charges or the parish councils take them off our hands."

The move comes as fierce debate continues over plans for parking charges in Cranbrook. The parish council there has also been given the option of running its own car parks.

Mr Ransley said: "Nothing is going to happen until we talk to the town council."

The latest council figures show the car parks took just £4,579 in 2010/11.

Mr Ransley said: "This does not include maintenance, patrolling or business rates apparently. In other words, they run at a loss."

Town council chairman Ray Moon warned that council tax could rise if it had to take over.

He said: "I find it very unlikely we would take over the running of the car parks. We would not be able to afford to run and manage them unless we put our precept up, which could lead to people paying more council tax."

He added: "We will resist attempts to impose charges. The current system has served us very well and has prevented the clogging up of Commercial Road. It has also encouraged shoppers to come to Paddock Wood."

Paddock Wood Business Association chairman Paul Smith warned that any move to scrap free parking would be "detrimental" to traders.

He said: "It is the one thing that we have an advantage over the big towns on, that people can come and shop here and park for free. Trade is very difficult at the moment and any move to introduce charges would have a detrimental effect."

He added: "The association would be happy to talk with the council as to how we can make parking more economically viable."