Cllr Bennett says Cllr Killens comments were offered as justification in favor of parking charges in

I was at the O&S meeting on Tuesday and spoke out regarding the parking charges. I have attached what was said on behalf of Cllr Killen which was recorded and this is the FULL transcript. Her comments were offered as a justification for continuing the push for parking charges. I think it is clear that she DOES SUPPORT parking charges at Sumner Road as it was offered in opposition to my comments against parking charges.

Full transcript of what was said by Cllr Owen who ascribed them to Cllr Killen

You may want to question how our council and in particular our labour Councillors support SHOP LOCAL which is still on their website and how our local Councillors are on a different page to the MP.

I find it extraordinary that you can ask for your comments to be read out in public in support of parking charges and then when challenged about it try and do a u turn and deny it.

May I suggest that you let people read the full transcript of what was said and they can make their own mind up.

What I find unbelievable is the fact that at the O&S meeting the cabinet member compared Sumner Road Car to the Strand and Liverpool One and said that you can pay up to £12 at Liverpool one and there is not a problem with that. Liverpool is a former capital city of culture and a major tourist destination so how you can compare our car park in Formby to that or indeed a multi storey in the stand is beyond belief.

Cllr Killen states that this will help with the cuts forced upon them yet none of them appear to agree that they could reduce the outgoings for ward Councillors by reducing the number by 33% which would give a year on year saving of in excess of £190,000 and this does not include further allowances that certain Cllrs claim for dependency allowance of which there appears to be only one Councillor who does this, this is also tax payers money and a further saving.

Our own MP has spoke out regarding an AA report which shows that car parking charges have a detrimental effect, particularly on small businesses. This may turn out to be a false economy if the business rates in Formby Village disappear in favour of more charity shops as business close down due to lack of footfall so this move could potentially lose the council more money. If as Cllr Killen states this is a budget saving, in order to prop up the budget then maybe she would like to comment on why the car parking charges in Southport at Botanic Gardens are not being implemented due to the fact that it would have a detrimental impact on residents. What is the difference here? The current status quo of Sumner Road Car Park works well.

Residents are already charged to park at the beach. Once more we are being taxed for enjoying Formby's recreational facilities. Formby certainly pays its way when it comes to putting money in the pot for the council so I don't feel that this concession with regard to parking charges is much to ask especially at a time, when by their own admission, the economic recovery is faltering and by their own arguments government economic policy is flawed, this is a double whammy for local residents.

Shame on labour Councillors for not supporting their area, yet again and they will never be able to truly represent the people of Formby while they are shackled by the party hierarchy in Bootle.

There are many areas that we could save money in the council and if they are all so concerned then why don't they start cutting their own allowances, which I personally believe are to high and make a stand for what they believe in. I would have no problem with cutting the number of Councillors or indeed the Councillors allowances and I believe this should be done as a matter or urgency. Maybe they should look at the number of Councillors allocated per residents as it is not proportionate across the wards.

Cllr Maria Bennett

Read Cllr Nina Killen's Statement by CLICKING HERE who says she is against the parking charges at Sumner Road

Read the story about Tuesdays meeting when parking charges were passed at the meeting by CLICKING HERE