COUNCIL leaders have been urged to think again over plans to introduce a raft of new car park charges in Maldon.

Maldon District Council’s finance and corporate services committee discussed proposals, including a flat rate of £1.50 on Sundays and evenings between 6pm and 10pm, and a Promenade Park charge increase of 20 per cent.

The proposals, which have attracted opposition from an online petition signed by 600 people, would raise £150,000 a year to help bridge the gap left by Government funding cuts.

Judy Lea, of Maldon Society, told last Tuesday’s meeting: “Evening parking costs nothing extra and is different from daytime use.

“It is crucial for businesses that open, but even more crucial for community life.

“Each of you has constituents who come to Maldon for cultural and social events or share their interests or just for company.

“This is the fourth time you are discussing parker bashing in seven years. Why continually create such ill feeling?”

Committee chairman David Sismey suggested the flat rate charge for evenings and at weekends should be set at £1.

He said: “I think the scope of these changes is almost too much. I would suggest we make a number of changes to the proposals that have come to us from the community services committee.”

But councillor Michael Pearlman said: “I completely oppose this. Do we not realise why Maldon is so popular?

“We will have Aquilla, Lidl and Aldi and all these will offer free parking. It will push business away from the town. “We have to listen to the people who voted us in. They don’t want it.”

Councillor Tony Shrimpton suggested a proper consultation needed to be held.

John Archer said: “I have never had so many letters in my pigeonhole than about these car parking changes. I think all [of those who spoke] had a very good point. “Are we going to close Maldon down early?

“We are not going to have Maldon as we know it in the future.

“I do feel at this moment in time we should leave the parking alone.”

Deputy chairman Helen Elliott added: “Free parking encourages business, shops and shoppers.

“I think if we increase charges now, it encourages more people to shop online or to go to out-of-town shopping centres.

“I think we should make shoppers and visitors welcome to towns and villages – not just Maldon.”

Councillors voted against the recommendations to increase charges by 10 per cent, removing linear charging, charging £1.50 in evenings and weekends, increasing charges at Prom Park by 20 per cent and charging at the council car park at weekends.

Plans for resident permits and a proposed flat rate of £1 in the evenings and weekends were both supported.

The recommendations will be passed to the council’s leadership, and a final vote will be held at a full council meeting tonight.