LISTEN - that was the message delivered to councillors at a meeting of the Business Alliance Group set up to fight the town's controversial parking regulations.
LISTEN - that was the message delivered to councillors at a meeting of the Business Alliance Group set up to fight the town's controversial parking regulations.
Scarborough traders gathered at the library in Vernon Road yesterday and urged councillo
rs to listen to their fears.
Chairman Penny Marsden praised those who had helped to distribute posters with the words: "Wanted - Scarborough councillors to listen on parking".
Almost 1,000 posters have been distributed throughout the town.
The focus of the campaign will be tomorrow s high-noon rally at the Town Hall when the alliance will hand over more than 350 letters protesting against the scheme.
Mrs Marsden, who appealed for a good turn out at tomorrow s rally, said: We re all hearing the same message and we all want to pass on that message. If the system does not make itself viable, the system will be required to be scrapped.
"If people can t park to shop then shops close down and the town will deteriorate.
"We need a good turn out at the town hall. That is where our show of support will be. The rest of the month we will be working hard to make the council and officials listen. I am confident.
"If the councillors don t turn up it shows they are disinterested in Scarborough.
"The Business Alliance Group appealed to the council's technical services director Derek Rowell for a breakdown of the cost of implementing the parking scheme.
They want information on maintenance and staffing, machinery and wages, revenue per meter, income from residents' permits and scratch cards.
The alliance has come up with a number of changes it would like to see introduced, such as free parking on Sundays and 40-minute parking reinstated in Castle Road and Dean Road.
One said: "Potential holidaymakers will see empty streets. It is far-reaching. They will think the place is deserted."
Another said: "There should be cars about and people spending money, not empty spaces."
Traders raised concerns about over subscribed car parks and free parking for councillors in King Street and Brook Street.
Mrs Marsden said: "The public are under the illusion that there is £17 million coming to town to pay for the parking, but there isn't."
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