RESIDENTS and business people in West Malling are being asked for their views ahead of what could be the town's biggest ever parking shake-up.

Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council has dropped off hundreds of questionnaires to people living and working in the centre of the town in the past few weeks.

Councillors have agreed for years that something needs to be done to increase the number of spaces for shoppers and prevent residents having to park hundreds of yards from their homes because of congestion.

In the last six months, the borough council has commissioned a study of the town's parking patterns, before it announces an overhaul of the system this autumn.

The study found that there was indeed a shortage of spaces in some parts of the town and that it was vital to retain the use of the Ryarsh Lane long stay car park which is currently on a short-term lease.

The study argued that the car park was essential for the future prosperity of town and should be bought as soon as possible.

Other proposals included the possibility of extending the long-stay car park to the west and giving residents who do not have their own off-street parking preference over shoppers

The questionnaire also asked whether residents would support the introduction of a flat rate charge of up to £2 for shoppers wishing to park in the town centre.

Parish councillor Kenton Oxley opposed a charge, saying: "I think this proposal is crazy. The new council has completely ignored residents' concerns about parking at West Malling Station and have instead chosen to charge people for parking when using facilities inside the village.

"The parish council has always voiced its objections to having a parking charge introduced because of the impact on the village business community."

The in-depth parking proposals will be the subject of a public exhibition tomorrow (Friday) and on Saturday at the Tesco short-stay car park off the High Street.

It will run from noon until 3pm both days.

Anyone wishing to comment on the study is asked to write to West Malling Local Parking Project, Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council, Gibson Building, Gibson Drive, Kings Hill, ME19 4LZ.