Swale Borough Council parking charges trigger boycott on Isle of Sheppey
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · May 4
Swale Borough Council parking charges trigger boycott on Isle of Sheppey
6 articles · Updated · BBC.com · May 4
The charges began in April in Queenborough, Kent, where an empty car park contrasts with clogged streets and complaints that emergency vehicles can struggle to pass.
Residents and businesses say the fees hurt trade in one of England's poorest communities, where debt advice demand, shop closures, evictions and cuts to buses and family services are rising.
Swale Borough Council is £13m in debt and Kent County Council owes more than £650m, even as Sheppey receives regeneration funding amid weak jobs, poor transport and high crime.
With government writing off massive council debts, why are essential services on Sheppey still being slashed?
Can 'Levelling Up' funds fix an island's economy when its core public services are collapsing?