TRADERS claim their pleas for help are falling on deaf ears after councillors threw out a proposal to scrap controversial car park charges.

Councillor Dave Blackwell, of the Canvey Island Independent Party, put forward a motion asking for charges in Oak Road car park, Canvey, to be scrapped, claiming Furtherwick Road shopping centre traders had seen dramatic losses after their introduction in February.

But his plea was defeated by one vote at Castle Point’s full council meeting on Wednesday That was despite the car park, which has space for 150 cars, looking nearly empty when the Echo visited it the following afternoon.

Sandra White, partner of Happy Days card shop, near the car park, said: “It is like they just don’t care. That is the decision they have made, regardless of how much we moan or campaign about it.

“If I was to close, they would lose a lot more out of business rates than they can possibly be making round there.”

Charges were introduced at the car park on February 1 and sees motorists charged 40p for one hour, 80p for two hours and £1.50 for up to three hours.

It was previously a free car park and remains free on Sundays.

Speaking at the meeting, Mr Blackwell said: “In my opinion, every borough should have one free car park in the town centre to encourage trade.

“Traders will tell you trade is down by up to 50 per cent since the car parking charges have gone in.

“This is all about trying to kick-start community shops because they are suffering. It is because people are resisting the charges because it used to be free.”

Tory Canvey West councillor Ray Howard, who argued against the motion, said the charges were needed after the council spent £250,000 refurbishing it in June.