A Hadleigh district councillor has been accused of hypocrisy and exercising double standards after making claims about the impending changes in car parking charges in the town.

Cllr Siân Dawson told a Hadleigh town council meeting that she was acting in the best interests of businesses and residents to defer, or even halt a Babergh Cabinet decision to reduce free parking in the districts car parks, from three hours to one hour.

But some residents have questioned Cllr Dawson's integrity after she was forced to resign as a magistrate due to an £8,000 dispute with a tradesman, who she had refused to pay.

Conservative councillor Dawson has argued Hadleigh businesses would struggle if free parking was reduced as people would not want to pay to park and would not use the High Street in the same way.

However, businesses from the Hadleigh area have challenged Cllr Dawson's claims and feel she is doing the town's businesses a disservice by showing a lack of confidence in their ability to attract visitors.

She also claimed she had already found the saving to be able to make up for the shortfall but refused to give details.

A Hadleigh businessman, who asked not to be named for fear of repercussions, said: "There are many of us in business that question her reasoning.

"I for one believe Hadleigh has so much to offer, especially on the High Street, and don't believe for one minute people will stop coming to Hadleigh if free parking is reduced.

"People will still get an hour in the car parks, just as there is on the High Street and if they have to pay a £1, or whatever to stay longer, then it will be because it is worth it.

"I personally think we have a good offer and am dismayed that this councillor has so little confidence in Hadleigh's shops, pubs, coffee shops and other services."

Cllr Dawson was questioned at the town council when presenting her report where she claimed she had already found £100,000 in savings but failed to give any details when asked.

It costs Babergh residents £210,000 per year to pay for general operating costs and more money needs to be raised to improve car parks in Hadleigh, including at Riverside Walk.

The income raised from the small tariff increases would be ring fenced and contribute towards:

• machine upgrades to include a contactless payment option - £70k

• updating and improving cycle parking, with provision for EVs, and maintenance, way-finding, signage, and markings - £105k

• covering general annual operational costs - £210k

The businessman added: "There is no such thing as 'free' parking, it may be free at point of use but the maintenance and operating costs have to be covered. She was asked by councillors to show how it would be paid for but could not provide an answer. It is woolly thinking at best."

Other residents have pointed out how Cllr Dawson resigned from her role as a magistrate in London, before being formally removed, when it was alleged she had abused her position while in dispute over an £8,000 bill for work carried out on her house with a Suffolk tradesman.

A spokesman for the Judicial Conduct Investigations Unit said in a statement at the time: "Dr Siân Dawson, a magistrate appointed to the London west area, has resigned from judicial office following an investigation into allegations she twice tried to use her position as a magistrate for personal advantage.

"A disciplinary panel recommended that Dr Dawson be removed from the judiciary, but she resigned before the disciplinary process had been formally concluded.

"Her resignation took effect from July 20, 2015. Had she not resigned, the Lord Chancellor and the Lord Chief Justice would have removed her from judicial office."

Zoe Barnes, who lives in a village near Hadleigh, believes her actions sow double standards and said: "If Mrs Dawson is genuinely acting in the best interest of Hadleigh business people then why did she behave in the way she did by not paying those that did work on her house then try and use her position as a magistrate to influence the outcome of the dispute? She is being hypocritical."

"Did she ever pay them?"

Cllr Dawson claimed: "I have accepted a settlement for damages and this is a private matter to protect the businessman who erroneously caused damage at my property."

She declined to comment further when asked:

Do you regard yourself as fit and proper person to be on the council/cabinet given your past behaviour which forced you to resign as a magistrate?

How can you say you are standing up for local businesses, given your history with a local tradesman?

You made various comments regarding savings you have found to pay for the car parking in Hadleigh and Sudbury, yet nothing has been made public at either council or public, so how do you justify that remark?

What proof do you have that businesses in Hadleigh and Sudbury will suffer due to free parking being reduced to one hour?

Why do you think the offer from businesses in Hadleigh is not enough to attract people to the town, and it is only the three hours free parking, which makes people visit and stay in Hadleigh?

Read detailed reports and FAQs on Babergh's car parking policy here...