FURY has erupted after charges were all of a sudden introduced in a busy car park in Stanford-le-Hope.

Business owners in Kings Parade and motorists were shocked to see a “Phone and Pay”

sign go up in the King Street car park,which the council sold last year.

Thurrock council isn’t happy either, and is now threatening to take the landowners to court.

Sue Lovett, 64, of Cedar Hall Clinic in the parade, said: “There was no advanced warning what so ever. I have spoken to the other traders and everyone is in shock.

“The impact is going to be severe.”

Residents held an emergency meeting to discuss what they could do to challenge the car parking signs.

A resident of Redlie Close, Stanford-le-Hope, added: “The sign assumes everybody has access to a mobile phone for a start. If not, tough, find a pay phone.

“Also as regards the terms and conditions on the new notices that have been erected, they are printed so small that a telescope of a powerful magnitude is required to read them. It’s not right.”

Councillor Shane Hebb, representative for Stanford-le-Hope West, said he will fight against any car parking charges that could have an impact on local businesses.

He said: “I was opposed to this land sale in the strongest possible sense, and now here we are fighting off car-parking charges which will cripple the Stanford community.

“I hope the new landowner has the courtesy to reimburse every wrong paid-for car parking charge to residents who have unfairly been asked to pay them.

“We will fight any car-parking charges which could negatively impact on our much-loved shops”.

In 2012, Thurrock Council passed an application to build flats and a supermarket on the land. The authority approved the construction of a mixed use development with a shop at ground floor level and 22 homes at first second and third floor level, together with a car park.

The sale included a condition for not less than 100 car parking spaces, made available, free-ofcharge to the public for a minimum continuous period of three hours a day.

A spokesman for the council said: “Thurrock Council has now written to the owners of the land explaining they are in breach of the sale conditions and asking them to stop.

“They have been told that if they fail to stop charging the council will take further legal action.”

The Echo attempted to contact the owner through the parking company, Star Park, and was told a message would be sent to the owner advising them the paper tried to get into contact.