06-07-2025
‘Council wants to charge us to park outside our own homes'
Residents have criticised their council's plans to bring in parking restrictions.
Dartford council has claimed a 'majority of residents' are concerned about commuters using their streets as 'free car parks'.
But hundreds of people living in the Newtown ward of Dartford have signed a petition against the plans, accusing the council of a 'money-grabbing' ploy.
Three proposals put forward in a consultation include time restrictions, yellow lines, parking bays and permits. Or they can choose none of the above.
Kelum Alahakoon said commuters forced him to park up to three streets away on weekdays.
'In the mornings, you cannot get parked at all. If you go out, there will be no spaces when you come back,' he said.
'It is just a money-grabber'
But Theresa Attwood, 53, who lives in St Vincent Road, said the problem was residents owning more cars, rather than commuters taking advantage of the lack of restrictions.
She told Kent Online restrictions would 'just move the problem on'.
She added: 'There are other ways to ease the issues. It is just a money-grabber.'
She suggested bays could be installed along her road instead of yellow lines and the current white boxes, to free up space.
Paul and Mary Stearn need car spaces for the two carers who visit each day. Mrs Stearn called the plan 'another tax' and a 'money-making scheme'.
Mr Stearn added: 'The roads by the station do get a lot of commuters parking there as it is nearer to the station, but we do not have that here.'
Ward councillor Laura Edie described the parking situation as 'challenging', adding that streets in the area were built during the Victorian era, when homeowners did not need space for cars.
'Although I think the most challenging time to park in this area is during the evenings, weekends and school holidays, the point of this study was to ease issues caused by commuter parking.'
A design is expected to be completed in October, and, if agreed, will see parking controls brought in early next year.
'Parking is uncontrolled'
The Conservative-run local authority said: 'Parking on many residential streets close to the town centre is uncontrolled, and effectively provides free parking for long-stay users.
'Residents living close to the town centre have asked us to find a solution.'
But residents have taken to social media to oppose the plans.
Kevin Jarl Dell said: 'Vote against it when asked. Permits are not the answer. What happens to visitors to your house?'
Pam Cave wrote: 'There is no solution to the parking in the Newtown area simply because there are more cars than parking spaces. If this goes ahead, we will be paying for the privilege of maybe getting a parking space, probably not outside your own house, and not even necessarily in your own road.'
