Seaford MP Norman Baker has written to East Sussex County Council formally to oppose the parking regime proposed by the Conservative council for the town. He has also asked for a clear undertaking that if Seaford says no to the proposals, as seems very likely, the county council will abandon its plans to introduce charges for on-street parking.
The MP's initiative follows a meeting he held with the town's Chamber of Commerce last week, and also discussions with local councillors.
Norman said:
"In November 2005, knowing that a proposal was to come forward from the County Council, I produced a suggested way forward that would deal with the present car parking problems such as they are [copy of original press release attached], but sadly the council has ignored this, and instead proposed a full-blown parking permit scheme, which I don't believe is necessary, and which risks damaging business in the town.
"The county council's proposals are way over the top and the words sledgehammer and nut come to mind. I am afraid there is a suspicion that the proposed scheme is less about dealing with Seaford's parking problems, such as they are, and more about raising revenue for the Conservative county council to spend elsewhere."
At the meeting with the Chamber, there was also severe criticism of the process involved in publicising the plans. Traders argued that the consultation process had been flawed. Large numbers of streets had simply not been delivered with information; the typeface used was in places as small as Point 4; the maps used were out of date, with streets built in the last 10 years missing entirely; and the time allowed for response was wholly inadequate.
Norman says:
"When the first mail drop was undertaken by the county's agents, I had to complain at the shambolic way it was handled. I was promised then that future mail drops would be dealt with differently, but here are the same people making the same mistakes all over again. Isn't there any quality control at County Hall these days?"
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Fax: (01273) 480287.
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