by Andy Gray

Controversial plans to reintroduce parking charges at Mote Park have been revealed.

The proposal is part of a number of money-saving measures contained in Maidstone council’s 2011/2012 budget plans.

The full strategy and the list of services affected will be unveiled at a full council meeting on Wednesday, March 2.

The pay and display scheme for Mote Park and neighbouring leisure centre was aired during an extraordinary meeting of the council’s overview and scrutiny committee.

It was immediately attacked by Cllr Clive English, (Lib Dem) one of four members to call-in the strategy on grounds of transparency.

In the report, the council projects an annual saving of £30,000 by charging drivers to park at the sites.

A previous pay and display scheme at the park was scrapped several years ago.

Cllr English, who represents High Street ward, warned there would be trouble ahead for people living nearby.

He said: "Car parking charges were in place at Mote Park a long time ago and my concerns now are the same as they were then.

"The overspill of cars into nearby Willow Way and Mote Road caused a lot of problems for people living in those streets.

"By introducing car parking charges to Mote Park and the leisure centre the same problems are likely to arise."

Questions were also raised over the council’s concessionary fare scheme as there appeared to be no reference to it in the strategy.

Council leader Chris Garland said a report regarding its future would be issued shortly.