HOOK needs a professional parking survey to replace one carried out by its own parish council.

That’s the view of Councillor Brain Burchfield, who represents the village at Hart District Council. He called on villagers to lobby Hook Parish Council to spend up to £10,000 on a professional survey.

As reported in The Gazette, a team of 17 volunteers spent two weeks in March surveying motorists who park in 18 problem roads in the village.

Parking has long been seen as difficult in Hook, with residents complaining about train users who leave their cars in residential roads near the station, or parents parking near the junior and infants school in Church View.

In a letter to village magazine Hook Focus, Cllr Burchfield said the issue was complex but will become more challenging with the 650 new homes that are earmarked for the village.

He added: “The concern I have is that the parish council are trying to do a strategic review completely on their own, without the use of professionals from this field who understand the complexities of putting together a strategy.”

Cllr Burchfield urged people to write and call Cllr Anthony Hawkins, the head of a parish working party looking at parking, to encourage him to use a professional service.

Anne Atkins, clerk of Hook Parish Council, said she had not received any letters following Cllr Burchfield’s plea.

She told The Gazette: “Cllr Burchfield is entitled to his opinion but the council feel that the parking survey it conducted has been done in a professional and competent manner.

“The results and reaction will be published in the near future when further consultation will take place with residents.”