A former Mayor of Medway has launched a highly personal attack on a Medway council officer, "congratulating" him for wasting taxpayers' money with his "ineffective job".

The row came after Dai Liyanage wrote asking if it was possible to have parking restricted outside shops in Wigmore Road in Wigmore during working hours. He claimed parked cars were preventing deliveries and having an impact on passing trade.

When he received a reply from parking and road safety engineer Chris Avis, stating the council did not have resources to implement such a scheme in the near future, Mr Liyanage launched into a rant about the council and Mr Avis himself – who he said was wasting public money.

“Dear Chris, Thank you for your most unhelpful response,” he replied. “I was a local government officer since 1970 until I retired in 1994. Also been an elected member for several years. I was there to serve the community.

'Thank you for wasting council taxpayers’ money by holding an ineffective post'

“Local government has changed so much and is now becoming a pointless organisation looking for excuses not to take action.

“Thank you for wasting council taxpayers’ money by holding an ineffective post.”

Shandhi Ravikumar, who owns Wigmore and Hempstead News, said she had experienced problems with one car in particular parked outside her shop, and asked the council for help.

“The council say they can’t help,” she said.” We can’t do anything. It’s causing a problem with everything.”

In his email to Mr Liyanage, who was mayor in 1999 and was a candidate of police and crime commissioner in 2012, Mr Avis had explained: “Although I understand your concern of long-stay parking outside the shops on Wigmore Road, Medway Council does not have the resources at this moment in time to deliver parking schemes such as the introduction of new ‘time-limited waiting places’.

"Introducing such a restriction would take many months to implement, be subject to public consultations, and may not address the needs of all businesses along this stretch of road.

“Officers are currently involved in large public consultations and proposed CPZs (controlled parking zones) in other parts of the authority. These schemes have been confirmed as a high priority by cabinet, senior management, and the portfolio holder, hence I am not in a position to progress requested schemes such as this.”