Conservatives MSDC Group lead new Budget Proposal to stop evening and Sunday charges and keep charges fair to the whole Mid Sussex community
Mid Sussex MP Mims Davies has lent her support to the MSDC opposition Conservative Councillors’ counter proposal for the Mid Sussex budget which had called for wide-spread and unwelcome changes to parking charges and systems in the District.
It is understood the existing Liberal Democrat Cabinet leadership is currently bringing forward to the Council various changes which would create different parking rates across the area with parking charges increasing by 30% in East Grinstead, 20% in Haywards Heath and 10% in Burgess Hill whilst also introducing a very unwelcome commencement of evening, Sunday and bank holiday charges.
Conservative Group Leader Cllr John Belsey says:
"This Conservative led counter proposal accepts a uniform increase in Mid Sussex car parking costs of 10%, however crucially for residents and businesses our proposal is without introducing the unnecessary and punitive charges for evening, Sundays or bank holiday parking or making some of our towns more expensive to park in than others.
We don’t think this is fair in these challenging times and there has been almost no communication with our communities about these impending proposed changes.
We need businesses across our towns and villages such as Burgess Hill, Cuckfield and Hurstpierpoint to feel their Council listens to concerns and makes decisions that will support our whole area and that won’t adversely affect our jobs, economic growth and communities.”
Councillors and residents are aware that car parking provision in East Grinstead is an ongoing challenge and through their budget proposal the Conservative group has also called for a commitment to a multi storey feasibility study for Queensway car park in East Grinstead this year. The Liberal Democrat led cabinet proposals introduce a differential pricing structure this year and then propose refreshing and validating the strategy next year. The Conservative group consider this completely the wrong way round.
As a vital and justifiable alternative to the current unbalanced car parking proposals, this has been submitted sufficiently in advance for the proposed amendment to be published alongside the cabinet budget proposals, therefore providing the opportunity to fully assess this very valid and balanced alternative option.
Mims Davies MP says:
“I have already received multiple approaches from concerned residents about the current proposal by the Cabinet to introduce new charges in some areas, but not others, and some query why, for example, there are plans to delay the introduction of charges in Hassocks, when this is an area that is impacted heavily by train commuter parking, but to penalise instead residents elsewhere in the District.
Others suggest setting different prices structures in different areas will be detrimental to businesses and is biased to residents. I find this approach unacceptable and not harmonious – it will be confusing and counterproductive potentially affecting our night-time economy also which I believe is of grave concern.
The leadership should listen to our group and our experience so that we can do something that works for our whole community. Other areas such as Wealden have free parking and our residents and businesses, I know, would much prefer a move towards that rather than to bigger costs and unfair differentials."
Mims continues:
“I do recognise any increase in parking charges will not be welcomed but it is absolutely vital there is a fairness about this, and it should be as modest and as fair as possible.
While cost of living remains a challenge this Lib Dem Council has overseen councillor allowance increases and this makes this even more important we challenge this on behalf of residents and businesses.
In times of financial challenge previously when I was on MSDC under leadership with Cllr Wall we voted through a 5% reduction, and I have seen no such leadership from this group including a prospective parliamentary candidate who is sending out mass messages to our community raising her concerns about the cost of living.
This is pure hypocrisy.”