Tougher parking restrictions introduced this year are being blamed on the closure of a charity shop as customers are no longer able to drop-off donations.

The boss of Gillingham Street Angels (GSA) said he was being forced to shut his business in Rochester because it was “no longer making any money” after the so-called “red routes” clampdown was implemented.

Neil Charlick added that he feared his community hub in Rainham High Street could also fold soon for the same reason.

The GSA chief executive said, sadly, it would mean laying off staff from the Star Hill premises who form part of a 50-plus workforce employed at sites across Medway and who support thousands of vulnerable and needy people.

He said: “I’m not pointing the finger at anyone but at the end of the day people don’t really care which charity they support.

“They just want to clear their cupboards.

“And they are not prepared to pay £1.50 to park in a public car park and make several journeys carrying two bags at a time to drop off.”

The key difference in the safety measures which Medway Council introduced in May this year is that loading is permitted on double yellows - but not on double reds.

Cameras monitor each area and anyone caught breaking the new rules is fined £70, reduced to £35 if paid within a certain time period.

For the first six months of the scheme, warning letters were sent for a first offence, rather than fines.

The red routes cover parts of Corporation Street and Star Hill in Rochester, The Brook and Best Street in Chatham, and the A2 in Rainham High Street.

In March this year, the charity took over an empty car showroom in Chatham High Street - its 11th venture in the past six years.

The former Grays Used Car Centre is just a few doors away from the former giant Argos store where it now focuses on selling second-hand furniture and is the charity’s HQ.

Set in the heart of the Intra arts and cultural area, the “clothes emporium” specialises in repurposing and repairing items on the ground floor as well as offering free school uniforms.

The second storey is designated to provide services to support those impacted by poverty, well-being issues and unemployment.

At the new site, fashion designers are encouraged to restyle and showcase their work and seamstresses will be refreshing items which would normally be discarded.

Neil said: “We have become a throw-away society. People would rather throw away a T-shirt if it has a hole in it rather than sew it up.”

Neil has secured a three-year lease from the Gray family who have been present in Medway for more than 80 years.

Grays director Peter Gray said: “It’s been empty since at least 2017, which seemed a pity.

“Neil approached me and I’m really happy to support all the good work he does for the community.”

The company has relocated to another premises in the High Street.

Neil has also managed to extend his lease from the Watts Charity which owns the Argos building, for a further year.

He has come a long way since starting his charity in an office above a garage in Sturdee Avenue, Gillingham in 2018.

As somebody who was once homeless and living on the streets, he set out to provide a basic soup kitchen and food bank.

But he soon realised people needed more than feeding themselves and their family.

He explained: “It’s no good giving somebody a crust of bread when they haven’t got a knife to spread butter on it or a can of soup if you don’t have a tin opener.

“It became apparent that they did not have a table or chair to eat around.”

Neil, who runs the charity with wife Tracey, uses the proceeds from his string of charity shops and cafes to fund free clinics and workshops which are supported by Medway Council, the NHS, and Medway Community Healthcare to name a few.

He needs about £1million a year to run his mini empire and now employs 52 full-time staff as well as 100 volunteers.

Hot on the heels of this business will be the launch of a hub in King Street, Gillingham, to help people with mental health issues.

Last August, GSA moved into the old Lloyds bank building in Rainham High Street, which has been empty for a number of years, to sell school uniforms.

The charity boss said at the time: “We have been keeping an eye on Rainham for some time and are also looking at Strood to complete our presence in all of the five Towns.

”Not everyone can get to our other shops and cafes so for some it’s on their doorstep.

“Like all our other places, we don’t aim to be just another charity shop. We want to give something back to the community.”

Medway Council has been approached for comment.