A former Conservative Borough Council candidate has launched an e-petition following proposals by the Liberal Democrat council in Surrey Heath to increase parking charges, introduce punitive restrictions that could damage local businesses and displace parking on residential roads in the Borough.
Attieh Fard, a resident of Mytchett, created the petition, which received hundreds of signatures within hours of going live on the Surrey Heath Borough Council website and the number of signitaries continues to grow. In less than 24 hours, the petition has already reached the threshold for the contents of the petition to be debated at full council meeting, and so reaching its objective.
A council report also mentions two very popular locations within the Borough that are being considered to introduce parking charges, which have always been free.
Frimley Lodge Park and Lightwater Country Park are both locations that residents of the Borough use for leisure and recreation and provide a cherished facility where they can enjoy clean air and exercise. It is feared that introducing parking charges at these locations will prevent those who are struggling as a result of the cost of living crisis from getting much-needed exercise, which will have an impact on their health, both physical and mental.
In a Whatsapp exchange with our editor, Attieh said:
Parking Charges in Surrey Heath are already to high and residents are choosing to spend their money in other towns and villages which is hurting local businesses in Surrey Heath.
After a hard fought campaign by County Councillor Paul Deach and other Conservative Borough Councillors, a proposal by the former administration at Surrey Heath Borough Council to completely remove a 2 hour free period was reconsidered and reduced to one hour instead. The Liberal Democrat Council administration is proposing to reduce this to only half an hour which I believe will be damaging to local busniesses in our villages who are already struggeling. I also believe that this policy will displace parking to residentail streets that already have a severe lack of parking provision.
In his blog, Surrey Heath Conservative Association Chairman, Stuart Black said:
My prefered Camberley car park, Knoll Road, goes up from a minimum of £1.20 to £2.30, an increase of 75%.
Initially I thought at least they were not changing the local car parks in Frimley and Frimley Green. But what I didn’t realise was that ‘POF’ wasn’t a car park but stands for ‘Pay on Foot’ and includes the car parks across the Borough.
In another blog on the subject Stuart goes on to call out the Liberal Democrats hypocrisy after repeatedly opposing the previous administration who also wanted to increase parking charges.
County Councillor for Mytchett, Frimley Green and Deepcut, Paul Deach said:
I find these latest proposals by the Liberal Democrat administration quite astonishing because they were very quick to heavily critisise the previous administration when they wanted to increase parking charges yet they are now increasing them. Their hypocrisy holds no bounds and is utterly shameful. Along with other Conservative Councillors I managed to halt plans to introduce parking charges at Frimley Lodge Park several years ago. The Liberal Democrats have proven in a very short space of time that they are anti business and do not listen to residents.
I predict that the Lib Dem administration at Surrey Heath will wait until after the general election to introduce charges at Frimley Lodge Park and Lightwater Country Park as not to damage their Parliamentary Candidates chances.
If you live, work or ever visit Surrey Heath and use the car parks in the Borough, you can sign Attieh's e-petition here.
