9:57am Tuesday 7th August 2007
By Dom Bowers
A call for free parking for Tendring residents has been rubbished.
Stephen and Danny Mayzes want every household to get a parking permit for council-owned car parks if they pay their council tax in full at the start of the year.
The Rush Green district councillors also want two-hour on-street parking in town centres instead of the current one-hour limit.
Council leader David Lines described it as a populist move which could cost up to £1 million and add 12 per cent to the council tax bill.
But Cllr Stephen Mayzes said it was a win-win situation He continued: "We believe residents and taxpayers are entitled to park freely on council-owned land in which they pay rates towards.
"This can only be a good thing for residents as the money we bring in from parking tickets and fees only pay for the attendants and is not invested in the district.
"Residents who want a permit will pay the council a full year of tax, saving the council money for having to chase residents not up to date with payments."
Mr Lines said the council already collects close to 98 per cent of council tax so the idea would have little effect as an incentive.
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