Swale council is standing by its decision to revoke free parking from poppy appeal volunteers.

For the last four years, it has provided permits so they can park in The Forum car park free of charge while they carry out a collection in the shopping centre in the run up to Remembrance Day.

But the chairman of the Sittingbourne and Milton Regis Royal British Legion Society, Fred Langworthy, has been told the exemption has now been withdrawn.

It followed a letter from Mr Langworthy to the council requesting free parking between 8.30am and 4pm daily from October 27 to November 10.

Mr Langworthy, pictured left, says he is disappointed by the decision.

The 65-year-old said: "We've always had a good working relationship with the council, but I feel a bit angry because it means the people who do the selling of the poppies will now have to pay for their parking.

"We normally have four people collecting, but I'm worried the decision could impact on the number of volunteers. It's not an issue for me because I get dropped off but it will be for the other three, two of which are blue badge holders.

"It means they'll have to move their cars as they can only park there for up to three hours, or have further to walk if they park elsewhere."

Charges at the Sittingbourne Library car park will be suspended between 9am and noon while a service is held at the war memorial in Central Avenue, on Sunday, November 11.

Poppy Appeal collectors will have to pay to park in Swale

A council spokesman said: "We are regularly approached by charity organisations requesting free parking for collectors while at shopping centres and other high footfall areas and the formal approach has been reviewed.

"The council must remain consistent with all these requests and unfortunately we are not in a position to be able to offer free parking concessions for each of these individual groups.

"We have not been approached with regard to disabled badge holder parking but long stay car parks are available and free for them to use.

"To locate a suitable car park you can search the local area using the website www.carparks4u.com."

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