Rasen Mayor: '˜We are against parking charges'

Rasen Mayor John Matthews EMN-160330-201647001

He writes: “I wish to re-iterate that Market Rasen Town Council has never supported or been in favour of West  Lindsey District Council introducing charges for  parking within this town.

“We, the Town Council, fought the request to remove the ‘Pride Ourselves in Free Parking’ signs until  we faced legal action.

“We instigated a competition for the design of new signs, promoting ‘Free Parking’, which was featured by the Rasen Mail. We have had meetings with Lincolnshire County Council highways as to where these signs may be positioned - legally.

“We have had meetings with representatives from WLDC and voiced our concern about the adverse effect on  parking charges.

“I have personally written to four senior officers of WLDC, on behalf of the Town asking WLDC to reconsider the proposal, as part of the consultation process, and supporting the letters and work done by members of our community and not least emphasising the decision by East Lindsey District Council to abolish charges as of next week.

“If WLDC were to implement charges we would not wish to see shop owners or residents without their own parking spaces heavily penalised  with parking charges.

“Definitely not ‘when’ or in any way supporting their proposal. Market Rasen Town Council has, from the outset of this, and still remains totally opposed to the introduction of parking  charges within this town.

“We have examined the various options of restricted parking, i.e. a free spot for a limited time, like the policy adopted by the Co-Op, but nothing further than that.

“I hope that this makes the Town Council’s opinion on the subject of parking charges within this Town  transparently clear to all.”