Southend mayor Alan Crystall today broke with tradition in a bid to solve the "intolerable" parking crisis at the town's general hospital.
Mr Crystall, Liberal Democrat member for Leigh, has suggested allotments at Fairfax Drive near the hospital could be used for parking, together with others run by Leigh Town Council in Manchester Drive.
Mayors usually exclude themselves from political debate during their term of office.
But Mr Crystall said that, despite normal practice, he felt he had to speak out when the best interests of the residents of the town were concerned.
Mr Crystall said: "The principal problem is that 350 staff members at the hospital are parking in the public parking area at the hospital every day."
However, his scheme has already been rejected as impractical by Southend town clerk George Krawiec and Leigh Town Council clerk Geoff Fulford.
Published Tuesday October 29, 2002
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