Tory Council's Shame

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 18th Jul 2006

A few days before the May local elections a joint statement was put out by both the Tories on Eastbourne Borough Council and East Sussex County Council, promising that real consideration would be given to the views of local people to the proposed parking scheme. And that the final report would recommend a much smaller scheme.

Lib Dem parliamentary spokesman Stephen Lloyd said: "We now have that report. It proposes, amongst other things, a business permit of £750 per annum per member of staff which is down only slightly from the original £900. This still exorbitant charge will cause severe damage to local businesses and employees, many of whom are on low wages, who are based in the Town Centre."

He added: "Either the Tories on the Borough and County Council knew the statement they put out just before the election was worthless or they were incompetent. Whatever their motives the centre of Eastbourne, the lifeblood of our Town, stands to suffer the consequences. I and the Lib Dem group on both councils will continue to oppose this appalling decision every inch of the way."