Responding to S Read (June 22) about parking on Southend seafront, I would like to state how proud I am of representing residents of my ward.

Council officers met with residents to discuss resident parking proposals to Pleasant, Hartington, Beresford, Beach, Burdett roads and Arnold Avenue.

The residents are confident in the measures taken by Southend Council to help improve their quality of parking access.

These residents are willing to pay to have priority access to parking outside their homes. So, Mr Read, please stop knocking the town and the progress it is trying to make.

I suspect Mr Read’s interpretation of the town’s financial position is biased.

All public sector organisations have to service debts.

Even our national debt that the bankers crisis influenced under the Labour administration has to be serviced.

It is easy to be a critic when you have no alternative or credible solution.

We are not a “bankrupt council” like some loony left councils of the 80s. I am a Conservative because I can effect change from within the administration as opposed to shouting ineffectively from the margins.

Blaine Robin
Councillor, Kursaal Ward
Butterys
Southend