Shepway District Council has been criticised for spending £40,000 resurfacing the car park at the civic centre.

Work will begin during weekends at the car park in Castle Hill Avenue, Folkestone, later this month, meaning the car park will be unavailable for use.

But a former Folkestone mayor has expressed her concern at a lack of maintenance at other car parks in the district while the council is set to spend money on its own land.

Janet Andrews said: “Shepway takes the money so why are they doing their car park first?

“The residents are the paying customers and the car parks we pay to park in are just left, Shepway take the money and do not repair them.

“People use it as well and it’s not always full. Surely their priorities should be their other car parks.”

She added her concerns that while the council does not get revenue from the civic centre car park they used money from other car parks to pay for it.

Lisa Hunt said on Facebook: “It just shows where their priorities lie. They only care about them making a good impression.”

Brian McBride added: “I took a quick look when I went up there on Wednesday. The surface has worn in places but was it really needed?”

But the council said it was necessary for the work to be carried out.

A council spokesman said: “It needs to be resurfaced. The civic centre car park is available to the public at weekends and there are potholes everywhere.

“The council does spend money on other car parks when needed. Currently about half of the council’s staff have the ability to work flexibly – therefore on some days working from home and on others in the office.

"However, this car park was found to be in the worst condition of all in the district so was a priority for repair.”

The council confirmed that the total cost of the work will be £40,587.56.

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