Liberal Democrats say "no" to Tory plans to end free parking in the Chalfonts

11.33.00am GMT Mon 18th Feb 2008

The plan to introduce on street parking charges has caused uproar across the Chalfonts.

In Chalfont St Giles a packed public meeting of over 200 residents was unanimous in its condemnation of the plan. Resident after resident slammed the proposal as expensive and unworkable. Speaking afterwards Parish Councillor Tim Starkey commented: "We were told this scheme was needed to pay for enforcement, but it turns out that it will cost £250 000 to install the meters - this is madness. The meters will be unsightly and parking charges would kill off passing trade." Speaking at a meeting of the Parish Council Karoline Lamb remarked "We should tell the District to get lost. We should not have to pay to park in the road."

In Chalfont St Peter local feeling was just as strong with Lib Dem councillor Brian Smith asking what the District Council had ever hoped to achieve by a scheme that has to date cost a staggering £487 000 district wide. With many shops in St Peter facing tough times ahead in the economic downturn these plans could suck the life out of the village.

Letters have also been flooding in to Chiltern District Council from worried residents in Little Chalfont. The inevitable consequence of this plan would be shoppers switching from the village shops to nearby supermarkets such as the Amersham Tesco.

Across the Chalfonts the District Council seems to want to take a sledge hammer to crack a nut. These proposals would cause more problems than they solve and urgently need to be rethought.