Free-parking protestor says he was 'kicked off' panel

by Lucy Buckland

lucy.buckland@essnmedia.co.uk

A parking protestor claims he has been the victim of a political ambush after losing his position on a neighbourhood panel.

Peter Morgan, who held the roads representative position on Coulsdon Neighbourhood Partnership for four years unchallenged, was replaced by Croydon North Conservative party agent Justin Crombie on November 10.

Less than 24 hours later Mr Crombie was appointed as the Tory councillor candidate for Coulsdon East, in place of Brian Udell who is standing down.

Mr Morgan believes he was "stitched up" after protesting on a controversial Coulsdon pay-and-display scheme the Conservative-led council backed.

They wanted to cut free parking in Brighton Road, from one hour to 30 minutes but after a successful community campaign, backed by the Advertiser, decided to keep it at one hour.

Now Mr Morgan is calling on Mr Crombie, who admitted he had never attended a Neighbourhood Partnership in the borough before last week, to stand down.

He said: "This was a clear political ambush. Local councillors have been very annoyed at the way the council has got so much bad publicity over their generally unpopular, misguided and generally derided scheme for Coulsdon town centre, and some, very unfairly, blame me personally for this situation."

But Mr Crombie claims he wants to work with Mr Morgan and said if he is elected as a councillor both roles go hand in hand.

He added: "Peter has done some very good work and I would like him to offer me a helping hand.

"I think the role of councillor and roads rep go hand in hand and will offer me a lot more leverage to get things done with the council."