At the last count Worthing Borough Council was £840,000 in credit because of its creative parking scheme and well on their way to a million pounds, according to records.

The council also had the benefit of a further £4 million spent on making the off-road car parks safe and pleasant to use, previously they were totally unsafe.

I believe the council should be putting some of this money back into the off-road car parks, lowering charges, investing in local businesses and supporting residents to survive the credit crunch.

Keeping council tax to a bare minimum is all well and good but we need to invest in people, good services and businesses to survive. After all, not everyone pays council tax, children for a start.

The council is working on a Worthing Parking Strategy which, in essence, means getting people off the street and into the car parks.

But will it consider disability parking? This seems doubtful as one of the experts at the recent parking panel meeting representing the council said: “Disabled people can park anywhere.”

They seem to forget most high-sided vehicles which can take wheelchairs can’t use the off-road car parks and access to the beach means just that – not having to park on the other side of the road and navigate across a busy street.

Will it include a section on the views of businesses?, Again, doubtful, but it has given out a questionnaire to small businesses, including the Scouts, about park-and-ride, even though it wanted to scrap the idea.

Surely people need somewhere to go and something to do in Worthing so let’s invest in our businesses and organisations before it’s too late. But let’s get this straight. The Conservative administration at Worthing Borough gets the money from off-street parking, ie car parks, and West Sussex County Council gets the money from businesses rates and on-street parking. What do we get for our money?

Councillor Hazel Thorpe
Tarring ward
High Street, Tarring