Dover and Deal Conservatives

13/06/2026

Sign the petition here;

https://forms.office.com/e/8V7FLsMMMn

🚨 2,000 SIGNATURES! 🚨

Thank you.

More than 2,000 people have now signed the petition calling on Dover District Council to think again about higher parking charges, three-hour limits and plans affecting previously free car parks.

This is one of the largest public campaigns on a local issue that I can remember in recent years.

But we cannot stop now.

As with any petition, signatures will be reviewed and verified, and some may not qualify if they fall outside the relevant area or contain incomplete details. We can’t leave anything to chance!

That is exactly why we need to keep building support.

The bigger the petition becomes, the stronger the message to Dover District Council.

This campaign is about residents.
It is about businesses.
It is about tourism.
It is about protecting our towns and villages.

Most importantly, it is about making sure decision-makers understand the strength of feeling across our district.

If you have already signed, thank you.

Now please help us reach even more people by sharing the petition with friends, family, neighbours and local businesses.

Let’s make this impossible to ignore.

👉 https://forms.office.com/e/8V7FLsMMMn

Sir Roger Gale Cllr. Chris Vinson James Robert Defriend Harry Sampson Cllr Dean Marie KentOnline News CommunityAd CommunityAd Online Sandwich Community Website BBC Kent Woodnesborough Parish Council Deal Town Council Walmer Town Council Dover Chamber of Commerce Deal & Walmer Chamber of Trade Sandwich Chamber of Commerce Sandwich Town Business Compass Sandwich Town Team Shopping in Sandwich St Peter's Sandwich Sandwich Visitor Information Sandwich is Open Sandwich Medical Practice Sandwich Town Council Sandwich Medieval Centre Dover and Deal Conservatives Herne Bay & Sandwich Conservative Association Dan Watkins, Herne Bay Councillor

08/06/2026

Walmer — Borrow Pit

Borrow Pit car park in Walmer is one of the free car parks now at risk under Dover District Council’s parking plans.

Free parking supports residents, visitors, local businesses, beach users, families and the wider community. Introducing charges where parking has previously been free risks making local life more expensive and discouraging people from spending time in the area.

Parking should help our communities thrive — not price people out.

Please sign the petition:

👉 https://forms.office.com/e/8V7FLsMMMn

08/06/2026

Ash — Queens Road / The Street

Free parking in Ash is at risk under Dover District Council’s parking plans.

Queens Road and The Street car parks support residents, local services, village life, visitors, volunteers and people who rely on being able to access their community by car.

In rural areas, parking is not just about convenience. It is part of the infrastructure that keeps villages connected and accessible.

We need DDC to think again before more damage is done to our rural communities.

Please sign the petition:

👉 https://forms.office.com/e/8V7FLsMMMn

08/06/2026

Wingham — St Mary’s Meadows

St Mary’s Meadows car park in Wingham is one of the free village car parks now at risk.

This car park supports residents, visitors, local businesses, community events and the wider village economy. For many rural communities, free parking helps people access the places and services that keep village life going.

DDC should not be making it harder or more expensive for people to visit and support places like Wingham.

Help us protect free village car parks.

Please sign the petition:

👉 https://forms.office.com/e/8V7FLsMMMn

08/06/2026

Eastry — High Street

Eastry’s High Street car park is one of the free car parks under threat from Dover District Council’s parking plans.

Free village car parks help keep communities accessible. They support residents, local shops, appointments, community facilities, volunteers and visitors.

Introducing charges risks adding another cost to everyday local life and could discourage people from using and supporting our villages.

Parking policy should support rural communities — not make village life harder.

Please sign the petition:

👉 https://forms.office.com/e/8V7FLsMMMn

08/06/2026

St Margaret’s — Reach Road

Reach Road car park in St Margaret’s is one of the free local car parks now at risk under Dover District Council’s parking plans.

For villages like St Margaret’s, free parking is not a luxury. It supports residents, visitors, local businesses, community life, countryside access and people who may have limited public transport options.

Turning free village car parks into paid car parks risks making it harder and more expensive for people to visit, shop, volunteer and support the local community.

We need DDC to think again.

Please sign the petition:

👉 https://forms.office.com/e/8V7FLsMMMn

08/06/2026

Today I met with Cllr Daniel Friend, Harry Sampson and Cllr. Chris Vinson to discuss the progress of the petition calling on Dover District Council to rethink its parking restrictions and charges.

The petition has now received more than 1,200 signatures, which shows the strength of feeling from residents, businesses and visitors.

The concerns being raised are serious.

The three-hour limit at Guildhall Car Park in Sandwich is already causing real difficulty for local businesses, visitors and those attending events at the Guildhall. People coming into the town should be encouraged to stay, shop, eat, attend events and support the local economy, not be forced to watch the clock and rush back to their cars.

These measures are damaging trade, reducing footfall and making it harder for our towns to survive and thrive.

Parking policy should support local businesses, tourism, community events and residents. It should not create unnecessary barriers for the people who want to use and enjoy our town centres.

I am pleased to support the campaign and urge Dover District Council to listen carefully to the concerns being raised.

Please add your name to the petition and help ensure this issue is properly heard;

https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/8V7FLsMMMn

06/06/2026

🅿 It's proving very controversial...

03/06/2026

🚨 Dover District’s parking plans need to be challenged.

Across the district, residents and businesses are raising serious concerns about:

❌ Higher parking charges
❌ Three-hour limits in some car parks
❌ Plans that could see paid parking introduced where parking has previously been free
❌ The impact on local shops, cafés, pubs, villages and town centres

Parking should support our towns, villages and local businesses — not make it harder and more expensive for people to visit them.

Dover & Deal Conservatives are calling on Dover District Council to think again and deliver a fairer parking strategy.

Please add your name to the petition here;

👉 https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/8V7FLsMMMn

And please share this with anyone who wants to protect our towns, villages and local businesses.

27/05/2026

Today we have launched a petition calling on Dover District Council to review its parking restrictions and charges across the district.

Residents, visitors and businesses have raised serious concerns about the current parking strategy, including the new three-hour maximum stay in some car parks, such as Guildhall Car Park in Sandwich.

Our towns need parking policies that support local businesses, encourage visitors to stay longer and help our high streets thrive, not restrictions that risk driving people away.

This matters across the whole district, including Sandwich, Deal, Dover and our surrounding communities.

If you think DDC needs to rethink its approach and deliver a fairer, more balanced parking strategy, please add your name here:

https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/8V7FLsMMMn

Please share this with anyone who cares about supporting our town centres, tourism and local businesses.

Deal & Walmer Chamber of Trade Sandwich Chamber of Commerce Sandwich is Open Sandwich Town Business Compass Cllr. Chris Vinson Sir Roger Gale Dover and Deal Conservatives James Robert Defriend