Tory Croydon Councillor denies hypocrisy over parking charge plans

Conservative councillors were vehemently opposed to car parking charges similar to the ones they are now considering introducing to the borough, the Croydon Guardian can reveal.

The councillor leading a consultation into extending parking charges to midnight across Croydon has denied he is a hypocrite after he fought similar rises in 2002.

Phil Thomas was part of the Conservative group which vehemently battled proposals to extend the central Croydon Controlled Parking Zone(CPZ) to midnight every day after a public outcry eight years ago.

But the council is now consulting residents on extending the scheme to outer parts of central Croydon, which many residents fear will prevent friends and family visiting and affect trips such as church visits on Sundays.

Councillor Thomas said he had an open mind over the consultation, which comes to an end on February 4.

He said: “Just because it wasn’t a good idea eight years ago doesn’t mean it’s not a good idea now.

“Parking is a problem, especially in central Croydon and some of the outlying areas and district centres.

“What we are asking at the moment is do people want any changes - it’s eight years since the last consultation and we’re now looking at it again.

“I want to make it very clear this is a genuine consultation with residents to find out their views.”

South Croydon traders Alfonso Camisotti and Malcolm John are preparing to present a petition against the scheme to councillors, while Croydon Central MP Gavin Barwell said lots of his constituents had been in touch about the proposals.

Mr Barwell, who also lobbied against the last CPZ extension when he was a councillor in 2002, said he believed common sense would prevail.

He said: “The feedback I have had so far is that in a few areas close to the town centre some charges do need to be made, but in large parts of the outer areas people are of the view they don’t want any charging at all.

“I think the council is right to look at it as a consultation but it’s got to look at what residents want.

“Phil (Thomas) has a good record of responding to the views of residents over CPZs, so I’m confident common sense will prevail in this.”

More information can be found at croydon.gov.uk/transportandstreets/parking/parkingconsultations.

Anyone interested should send comments to parking@croydon.gov.uk, or Parking Enquiries, PO Box 1462, Croydon CR9 1WX.