A petition to reintroduce free parking in a town centre car park has reached almost 2,000 signatures.

Parking fees were introduced at the King Street car park in Stanford-le-Hope three years ago in a move which angered local businesses.

Parking had been free on the plot of land before it was sold in 2013. 

The following year, car parking charges were introduced using Star Park.

In June this year, Terry Piccolo, councillor for Stanford-le-Hope West where the car park is situated, submitted a petition to the council calling for a minimum of two hours free parking in the car park.

This, he said, would enable people to visit the town centre briefly to pop into the shops for a loaf of bread.

The idea has gained a lot of support among traders and shoppers.

The petition states: “We the undersigned request Thurrock Council do everything in their power to ensure a minimum of two hours free car parking in King Street Car Park, Stanfordle-Hope with or without the private owner’s cooperation, using whatever means necessary
to achieve this.”

The petition, which was submitted on June 28, received a total of 1,924 verified signatures.

A further 844 signatures were later received, but they were not verified as Thurrock Council only requires 1,500 valid signatures to hold a debate.

In 2013, the council had agreed to “dispose” of the land in order to make way for any redevelopment on it.

A key condition of the sale was to allow for free parking to be provided in the new development.

However, the agreement did not carry over after the plot went under new ownership.

Initially, there was an allowance for free parking but after a spate of overnight lorry parking and littering the council took action to stop this and those actions are still ongoing.

The car park is now run by a private operator who introduced the parking fees.

The debate over whether two free hours of car parking should be granted in the Kings Street car park is due to be discussed by Thurrock Council.