MP and Mayor both call for Stockton car parking charges U-turn
Following news earlier this week that Stockton Borough Council are planning to introduce car parking charges at Preston Park, Tees Valley Mayor, Ben Houchen, and Stockton South MP, Matt Vickers, have called on the council to U-turn and reverse this damaging decision.
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said “The decision by Labour’s Stockton Borough Council to introduce car parking charges at Preston Park beggars’ belief!
“Preston Park is one of the jewels in Teesside’s crown providing beautiful scenery for people from across our area to enjoy.
“Whether people are walking their dogs, at the play park with their children, or playing a bit of footy, in no world should we be adding a cost to this. Particularly, at a time when hard working families are feeling the squeeze.
“Our parks need to be protected from Stockton’s Labour Party who seem hell bent on ruining them. Many people will remember a time they tried to build a school on this park, now they are trying to charge people to use it.
“This idea is short sighted and should be reversed immediately.”
Stockton South MP Matt Vickers added “The news that Stockton’s Labour Council has decided to introduce car parking charges at Preston Park is appalling.
“Preston Park is a popular area with locals, who use the grounds to exercise, walk their dogs and enjoy time with their families. Access to the facilities which allow them to participate in these activities should be free - now more than ever.
“Not only will it discourage people from using one of the best publicly accessible green spaces in Stockton, but it will also create new issues for the local residents.
“Those who still wish to use Preston Park, but avoid the costs of parking, will migrate onto the surrounding roads. Residents living in these areas surrounding the park are already heavily burdened by traffic and struggle to find their own spaces when there are events.
“People have seen terrible examples of financial waste from Stockton Council in recent years, at the moment they’re employing 2 Managing Directors, and now they’re trying to recoup the costs from the pockets of local families.”
Preston Park in Eaglescliffe is council owned and maintained and has never previously had any car parking charges.