Motorists have welcomed a freeze on parking charges in Southend town centre next year.
The move was announced by Roger Weaver, Southend's executive councillor for transport, despite a battle to balance his budget.
Roger Glover, 56, a window cleaner from Chestnut Grove, Southend, said: "I think it's a sensible idea not to put the charges up.
"It's good news because people will go elsewhere to shop if it gets much more expensive here."
Nadia Cataldo, 32, a senior recruitment consultant from Southend, said: "Too right they shouldn't put the charges up. It's too expensive as it is.
"In one car park it was costing me £18 a week to park for work. People who work in Southend should have a special permit, and maybe pay about £2 a day.
"We need to compete with places like Basildon and Lakeside or people won't come here to shop anymore."
Malcom Price, 32, who works in a shop in Nelson Mews, Southend, and lives in Rayleigh, said: "It's good news for the town. "It's expensive already and it can cost me a fortune to park for work if I keep having to go out on jobs."
Published Friday, January 24, 2003
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