A WAR of words has broken out among Southend councillors over who knew about a proposal to introduce a Ulez-style congestion charge in the city.

At a policy and resources committee meeting, Kevin Buck, councillor responsible for highways, transport and parking, told the committee he had seen documents suggesting a congestion charge was being considered by the previous Labour-led administration.

Similar to Mayor of London Sadiq Khan’s Ulez scheme, which charges motorists to drive within the London area, the plan could have seen drivers stung for driving on the A127 or A13.

Any congestion charge-style proposals have been ruled out by the Tory administration.

Mr Buck said: “In several documents that I have now been privy to, and at least one meeting that I’ve been in with officers, the intention was to introduce some form of charging system within Southend Council.

“It was clearly stated it would be as a revenue generator so this was nothing about the environment or pollution. I’ve now removed any possibility of that from this administration.”

Former council leader, Ian Gilbert reacted angrily to the suggestion.

He said: “Councillor Buck referred to a note that he’s allegedly seen. Has he seen anything to suggest the portfolio holder in the previous administration supported a congestion charge?

“It’s completely unfair on us and the public if councillor Buck continues to refer to documents to make a politically explosive claim without actually sharing those documents with the committee and the council.”

However, Steven Wakefield chairman of the committee and the former portfolio holder for transport said he had in fact seen such a document.

He said: “I’d like to come clean. There was a pre document in the local transport plan for proposals as to what they wanted to do. They were only proposals. I didn’t mean anything was coming forth.

“They were proposing the closing of the seafront and bits and pieces like that. It doesn’t mean that it was going to actually happen. It was in the local transport plan. They are looking at the overall area and what they might do. It didn’t mean that was going to happen.”

Tony Cox, leader of the council, said he believed councillors had not been provided with all the documents, with only “decision-makers” being privy to some important papers. He vowed that documents will now be provided to all councillors.