Gravesend's parking crisis escalated this week with calls for the council leader to step down. ALISON WHITE reports ...

CAMPAIGNERS are calling on Councillor John Burden to pay the price for the parking problems.

Since October 14, when Lord Street car park was closed, traders have reported a dramatic fall in profits.

And fed-up motorists claim there is no point in visiting Gravesend because there is nowhere to park.

With worries the town's Christmas shopping will be ruined, campaigners are calling for the council to take action.

They say alternative parking put in place to replace the 540-space Lord Street car park is unsuitable.

Wellington Street resident Len Ostheimer, 55, says Cllr Burden should resign and make way for someone who will do what people want.

Mr Ostheimer, who is retired, has helped organise petitions containing more than 30,000 signatures collected by traders and members of the public calling for the council to sort it out.

And there have been 19,000 hits on a website dedicated to campaigning against the parking changes in Gravesend.

Tory leader Councillor Michael Snelling is also calling on Cllr Burden to take action.

Cllr Snelling said: "I do think it is time personally for him to make way for someone else to sort the mess out."

But Cllr Burden has hit back, saying the Conservative Party makes a request for his resignation each Christmas.

He said: "I will not be resigning."

Traders are calling for the council to reopen Lord Street car park and pull out of its contract with developer Barratt.

The company plans to build 100 flats, six living and working units and 956sq m of commercial and community space on the site.

Nigel Henderson, the owner of Parrock Street Veterinary Surgery, says when he complained to the council about the situation he was told not to make a fuss.

He has written three letters to the council but says he was told he was running Gravesend down.

The council says negative comments and fears are the main reason people are staying away from the area.

Council managing director Jim Wintour said: "They (shoppers) believe there is nowhere to park because of the hysteria."

Chief executive of the Gravesham Chamber of Commerce Graham Sawell says the situation is making life difficult for traders at the moment.

He said: "Once trade is lost, it is lost forever."

Will time limits in car parks change?

A number of issues about car parking and charges were due to be considered at a Gravesham Council cabinet meeting when News Shopper went to print.

The cabinet will discuss altering the length of time people can park for from up to two hours, to up to four hours.

A three-hour limit to be introduced across all car parks has also been proposed.

It is hoped this will give shoppers more of an opportunity to shop as well as have time to eat lunch.

Cllr Burden said: "There does seem to be a high demand for parking near the town centre.

We are quite open-minded on that front.

"We are taking on board all comments."