SEND BACK YOUR PARKING VOUCHERS TO REDUCE DAY CENTRE CHARGES

10.28.08pm GMT Sun 9th Mar 2003

Lib Dem Transport spokesman Councillor Martin Elengorn today made a plea to Borough residents to send back their free parking vouchers and ask for old people day centre charges to be kept down instead.

Said Martin " Residents will be getting a book of 10 half hour parking vouchers with their Council Tax demands. These are worth between £3 and £4 a book depending where they are used. At the same time old peoples' day centre charges are being raised to £5 a day if a meal is taken. "

"Many borough residents would I am sure prefer to give up these vouchers if this would keep down day centre charges for their elderly friends and neighbours."

"The Tory Council is acting like Robin Hood in reverse, taking money off the elderly and giving it to car owners. Many residents will be uncomfortable about this and I urge them to return their vouchers and demand that the day centre increases are reversed. The Council will be able to afford this because car parking income will be boosted if the vouchers are not used."

"I would hope that quite a campaign will get going in some streets and residents will collect vouchers house to house and return sack loads to the Civic Centre"