A BUSINESSMAN has kindly donated thousands of pounds again to maintain the free parking at a school.

For the fourth year running, Roy Pipe Insurance Consultants is providing Plume Academy with £5,000 sponsorship to enable it to continue providing free parking on evenings, weekends and school holidays.

Without these funds, the academy would have to charge of £1 for the public to park to maintain the surface of the parking area.

This space provides 150 free spaces and businessman Roy Pipe and principal Carl Wakefield hope it will continue to encourage the public to shop and use the high street.

Mr Pipe said: “Maldon High Street is still a bustling shopping centre and we hope our input will help it to remain so.”

It has been almost 20 years since the last additional parking was created in Maldon.

With the population growing and more houses being built, many side streets are now overwhelmed with cars trying to park and the larger routes like Fambridge Road are subject to heavy traffic.

Mr Wakefield added: “Once again, we are delighted to secure the support of Roy and his company that will allow us to keep the main car park open for High Street users and visitors - we thank him sincerely.

“However, in recent times, we have also opened up our tennis court area during busy evening and weekend times to allow not only the public but also the 3G artificial grass pitch users to park.

“This is because parking was never written into the original plan for the 3G pitch and the academy does not have jurisdiction over it from 5.30pm every evening, the weekends or the school holiday periods.

“Maldon District Council has responsibility for it during these times but again, we look to work in conjunction with them, especially in terms of allowing parking for its users.”