Simon Fowle said that the new parking charges introduced by SBC on the Isle of Sheppey were affecting businesses and community activities in Queenborough. He said that a petition had been signed by 4,000 people opposing the new charges and this number represented a significant number of businesses and residents. He said people were now avoiding visiting the Queenborough area due to the charges. He asked how SBC councillors proposed to put this right, how the council would support business that had made losses, how they would support affected community activities, and what evidence would be required to show that this policy was causing harm. The 4,000 signatures on the petition represented a clear message asking the council to listen and review the impact of the charges and to work with businesses and residents to find a solution that supported both the council’s needs and that of affected businesses and residents. Mr Fowle requested that the councillors at the Sheppey Councillors & Residents Forum write to the relevant service committee to ask for the charges to be revoked and show their support for the local community.

Councillor Mike Whiting said he fully supported Mr Fowle’s request and said that he had met with businesses in the Halfway area who had raised similar concerns. In particular, staff working at businesses were impacted by the charges and people were now parking on streets and blocking driveways. Commuters in Queenborough were not able to use the SBC car park as there was a time limit so they were having to park on the street. Councillor Tom Nundy would be proposing a Motion at the next Full Council meeting calling for an urgent review of the new parking charges on the Isle of Sheppey. Potentially if businesses were being discouraged from opening in the affected areas, this could affect business rate income. Councillor Whiting had requested revenue figures for car parks across the Isle of Sheppey before the Full Council meeting.

Councillor Nundy said that taking the Motion to Full Council could not result in charges being reversed straight away as it had to go back to the Environmental Services and Climate Change Committee first, but he would not stop fighting to get the charges reversed.

A request was made to find out what revenue had been generated from Isle of Sheppey car parks and how many fines had been issued. The Chief Executive said that she would request information on income received from car parking fees and fines.

Councillor Ashley Shiel proposed that the Chair of Sheppey Councillors & Residents Forum write a letter in support of the Motion going to Full Council on 23 June 2026 calling for an urgent review of the new parking charges on the Isle of Sheppey due to how businesses, residents and road safety were being negatively impacted by the new car parking charges. Councillor Mike Whiting seconded the proposal and on being put to a member and public vote was agreed.

Resolved:

1)    That information on income received from car parking fees and fines from Isle of Sheppey car parks be obtained and fed back to the Sheppey Councillors & Residents Forum.

2)     That the Chair of Sheppey Councillors & Residents Forum write a letter in support of the Motion going to Full Council on 23 June 2026 calling for an urgent review of the new parking charges on the Isle of Sheppey due to how businesses, residents and road safety were being negatively impacted by the new car parking charges.