TRADERS who claimed a traffic warden was scaring their customers away could be offered a lifeline with new parking proposals.

Last August, News Shopper reported how business in Longfield plummeted for the second year running because people were scared to park due to the traffic warden's zero-tolerance policy.

Longfield Parish Council pledged to look into traders' calls for new parking arrangements in Station Road.

Now traders and councillors have reached an agreement about a possible solution to their ticket terror problems.

Proposals include encouraging commuters to park in the station car park, freeing up residential roads and creating more spaces in Station Road.

Spaces were previously available outside shops but were replaced with loading bays and disabled parking spots.

Traders say shoppers leave their cars parked illegally while they run in to buy items because there are not enough places to park to access smaller shops.

They claim this is when the "miserable" traffic warden pounces, and say he even hides until the shopper has left the car to hit them with a ticket.

New plans include turning some disabled bays and loading areas back into parking for shoppers.

Dartford Council leader Councillor Jeremy Kite, who is also chairman of Longfield and New Barn Parish Council, admits there are too many spaces tied up for these uses.

He says the new proposals are aimed at re-balancing parking in the village.

Butcher Matt Reynolds says the proposals would be an "ideal" solution.

The 26-year-old, who works for Longfield Village Butchers, says many shoppers do not want to park at the top of Station Road and walk to smaller shops at the bottom of the street, especially if it is raining.

He says more spaces would mean people could park legally for a short period and avoid the wrath of the traffic warden.

Mr Reynolds said: "The other traffic wardens are pretty good.

"They will move you on or they will let you do it and won't book you for a couple of minutes.

"We have seen the miserable one out there hiding."

Hair Underground manager Russell Watson said: "We learnt to put up with it and tried to get on. It's all you can do.

"We caught the traffic warden hiding behind a bus stop doing someone up the road.

"The customers still don't like it. We have definitely lost people because of him."

Cllr Kite said: "It's a long process. We want to have a situation where our traffic staff are able to manage the traffic rather than police it."

He added the next step will be to present the proposals to Kent County Council.

  • Work on a £120,000 road-widening scheme will start in Whitehill Road, Longfield, on September 25. This follows a campaign by residents for action on the road after road-rage incidents and damage to parked cars caused by passing vehicles.