PERMITS offering cut-price parking could be issued to Southend residents to boost town centre trade in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis.

Southend Council is considering a package of measures to improve road safety and the environment and offer hope to the town’s ailing economy.

Concessionary permits could be in place soon to give residents cheaper parking across the borough in return for a monthly fee.

Southend Council officers say they are assessing the financial impact of the scheme with a “shop local” message.

The move would be designed to rejuvenate the town centre, which was suffering a downturn even before the devastating impact of the coronavirus lockdown.

Ron Woodley, deputy leader of the council, has previously said the permits could be provided to residents in Southend and its surrounding areas for a monthly fee of £7.

The scheme would operate by a number plate recognition system and would allow people to shop or eat anywhere in the borough for three hours.

Those who want to stay longer will have the option to top up at a ticket machine or through mobile app Mobon.

Alternatively, they would be able to simply move to another spot – for another three hours.

Mr Woodley, Independent councillor for Thorpe ward, said: “We would like to implement a large part of the strategy by the beginning of October but we have to present the ideas to cabinet and then hopefully they will be approved through council.

“This will be around car parking areas and street parking. Other schemes like electric vehicles and the whole range of parking will be in the final strategy.”

Speaking of a residents’ parking concessions, Mr Woodley added: “It’s got to be done this year, from July to September for residents in order to help the High Street and town centre.

“During these three months signs will go up in car parks to allow residents to sign up for a Southend pass.”

In a cabinet report to be considered this month, council officers revealed there may be an option to extend a current free parking scheme for key workers but Mr Woodley said: “We are looking at something which will benefit everyone, not just key workers.”

Essex Chambers of Commerce chief executive, Denise Rossiter, was unimpressed with the council’s parking plan.

She said “I’m not sure how the council thinks that charging residents for three hours free parking will boost Southend’s High Street, it will though be another source of income for the borough council so it’s not something we would support in the form being suggested.

“We all know that the town has suffered in recent weeks with the lockdown arising from Covid-19 but offering genuinely free parking to residents would be a much better way of encouraging people to come into the town centre to shop.

“I hope that the council will think very carefully about the proposals before implementing them.”

Michael Donno, from Lawrence Matthews art shop in Queens Road, Southend, added: “I don’t think someone who only pops into Southend once a month is going to want to pay for this.

“It would be better to just have three hours free parking for everyone but then the council has to make money.”

“We’ll have to see how it goes.