The Echo recently reported on the Conservatives’ continuing efforts to spoil a residents’ parking scheme for Thorpe Bay.

Clive Lucas, the Conservative candidate in the May’s elections, is starting a petition against pay-and- display in Southchurch Park East.

Our Independent councillors already have assurances from the chief executive and the director of tourism and enterprise of Southend Council, that parents of pupils at Greenways School will not be disadvantaged by the introduction of pay-and-display.

Mr Lucas knows this of course, but he is quite happy to waste everyone’s time with his pointless petition.

By doing this he merely hopes to stir up support for himself at the expense of Mike Stafford, the Independent councillor standing for re-election.

Is Mr Lucas starting a petition against pay-and-display on the seafront, where residents are really angry about the Conservative council’s proposals? Far from it. He plans to do nothing other than claim he has agreed a 10.30am start for pay-and-display in the car park behind the Camelia Hotel.

It would be interesting to know how he managed to do this, when Thursday’s traffic and parking meeting to discuss this and other related issues was cancelled.

Without the authority of the committee, no such decision can be made. Because he has no sensible policies to promote, Mr Lucas concentrates on misleading people and making mischief.

Steve Rawlinson
Walton Road
Southend