Council approves plans to scrap free parking

The council said it will be monitoring the impacts of the charges

Controversial plans to scrap free parking in parts of south Suffolk are to go ahead.

Babergh District Council will bring in short-term parking charges in Sudbury, Hadleigh and Lavenham to help offset a £6.7m budget gap predicted over the next four years.

The authority approved the plans after a review, following criticism from councillors.

The decision was made at a cabinet meeting with the council admitting that there was going to be some "kick back".

The plans would mean people having to pay £1 for short-stay parking for the first hour, or £1 for two hours in long-stay parking.

The council said the fees were lower than those of neighbouring authorities and there were no plans to introduce charges on Sundays or bank holidays.

Blue badge holders will continue to be allowed to park for free for up to 3 hours in any bay of all public car parks.

John Ward, the cabinet member for finance at the Independent coalition-led council, said he understands some people's concerns but that the authority could not afford to provide free parking.

"You're asking people to pay for something that they've never had to pay for before, naturally there is going to be kick back," he said.

"Nothing is for free, somebody, somewhere, sometime has to pay for it and why not the person who uses it at the point of use."

Parking will remain free on Sundays and bank holidays

However, there have been fears the charges would reduce the number of people heading to the town and village centres as well as putting off employees of retail businesses.

A petition against the plans had more than 8,000 signatures.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Conservative councillor Paul Clover told the cabinet that it was "prepared to gamble with the livelihoods of the residents they represent and the economies of our local towns and stakeholders.”

Green Party councillor Jessie Carter added: “We have the opportunity to help our businesses, to support our high streets, our community groups, and our residents, and that’s what we should be doing.”

Council leaders said the money generated from the parking charges would not be enough to cover the budget shortfall and other savings would be needed.

However, it could take six months for the charges to be introduced.

The council said it will be monitoring the impacts of the charges.