Free Sunday parking report criticised by Brighton and Hove Lib Dems
A report on a proposal to allow free parking in Brighton and Hove on Sundays has been criticised as inept and biased.
The report was written after a petition was presented to Brighton and Hove City Council by local Liberal Democrats.
One of those behind the petition, Jeremy Gale, said that the report was “inept, biased and covered with the Green Party’s fingerprints”.
The petition, signed by 1,282 people, called for the introduction of free Sunday parking across Brighton and Hove.
The council agreed to draft a report costing the implementation of both the full and partial introduction of free Sunday parking.
But Mr Gale said that the report was biased because it overlooked the positive impact that free Sunday parking would have.
Mr Gale, who plans to stand in the local elections in Central Hove next year, said: “The officers were asked to produce a fair, balanced and impartial report costing the full and partial implementation of free Sunday parking.
“This has not happened. The report is inept, biased and covered with the Green Party’s fingerprints.
“The report has failed to highlight the money that would be saved by not employing parking enforcement officers on Sunday – a figure which we believe costs the council hundreds of thousands of pounds a year.”
The report will be discussed by the council’s Policy and Resources Committee at Hove Town Hall on Thursday (12 June). The meeting starts at 4pm and is open to the public.
Mr Gale added: “Surprisingly, the report states the proposal would have a negative impact on our economy.
“The proposal would have positive ramifications on our local economy, with an increase in visitors to the city who, through free Sunday parking, would have more money to spend in the shops and with the retailers across the city.
“The committee are due to make their decision on the proposal on Thursday but I can’t see how they can make an informed, balanced and well-judged decision with the report that is available to them.”
