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Reg Bell |
Proposed Extension By TDC Of Paid For Parking
Areas
On 27th
April 2017 Council Officers presented to the Council Cabinet details of a
scheme to extend the areas of paid for car parking across numerou s sites
within Thanet. This wide ranging proposal would affect large numbers of
residents and visitors to Thanet. It would have a detrimental impact on those
areas within the scheme which contain shops and business's and which service
tourism to Thanet. The Cabinet agreed despite opposition to the proposal from a
number of Councillors who spoke out against the scheme, to put the proposal
out for public consultation before a decision to accept or reject the scheme is
finally made . The time for public consultation is short - just 28 days from
4th May. If implemented the scheme will be completed in three phases within
the next 18months. The details of the proposal can be found on the T.D.C.
website.
A Review Of The Proposal.
The
Executive Summary makes the contentious and unproven claim, that imposing
parking charges will "benefit residents and local business". It
provides no evidence to substantiate this claim and it goes on to say that the
income "could be used to invest into further parking schemes" . It is
clear from this statement that this scheme if implemented will lead to even
further extensions of paid for parking within Thanet in the near future .
If this
proposal is given the green light by the Council Cabinet
and Councillors it will have the effect of giving "carte blanche" to
further paid for parking extensions to be imposed. The proposal makes no
reference to any proper assessment of there being any desire or necessity for
change s to the present scope of paid for parking. Under the Department of
Transport Traffic Management Act 2004 Operational Guidance to Local Authorities
- Parking Policy and Enforcement, there are numerous references to the Council's obligations on parking
matters. This document is available on the internet.
The intention of this Guidance is to provide help to local authorities on how to approach parking issues. On page 14, para . 4.3 it says "the Secretary of State recommends that Enforcement Authorities consult locally on their parking policies when they appraise them. They should seek the views of people and businesses " On page 21 at para. 5.3 It says "Authorities should consider setting up their own user group for wider stakeholders such as businesses, representative organizations and the public. This should comprise representative s of motoring organizations, local residents and traders, socially excluded groups and others with an interest in parking policies. This group can be used to test proposals to ensure they meet the need s of road users" . If these recommendations had been followed, a consultation taken place or a consultative group formed, which had indicated a genuine and substantive desire for
The intention of this Guidance is to provide help to local authorities on how to approach parking issues. On page 14, para . 4.3 it says "the Secretary of State recommends that Enforcement Authorities consult locally on their parking policies when they appraise them. They should seek the views of people and businesses " On page 21 at para. 5.3 It says "Authorities should consider setting up their own user group for wider stakeholders such as businesses, representative organizations and the public. This should comprise representative s of motoring organizations, local residents and traders, socially excluded groups and others with an interest in parking policies. This group can be used to test proposals to ensure they meet the need s of road users" . If these recommendations had been followed, a consultation taken place or a consultative group formed, which had indicated a genuine and substantive desire for
acceptance
of this proposal, you can be sure that it would have been included within the
proposal as evidence , but there is not mention of such an exercise taking
place. The conclusion can only be that the Council have taken no heed
whatsoever of the Government Recommendations and that their anti-democratic
conduct is therefore if not illegal, certainly is unethical. Putting this
scheme out for public consultation at such short notice for only 28 days from
27th April does not provide sufficient time for
a proper and reasonable impact assessment to be mad e by all those affected by
the scheme . The view of the few who have seen the proposal is that the Council
are attempting to rush through this scheme before objections can be effectively
mobilized. At the very least, if the Council expect to retain any integrity of
action at all they should extend the public consultative period.
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Photo Courtesy of Westgate-on-Sea Facebook Page |
Recent
significant hikes in the already established paid for parking areas have
attracted considerable public criticism with the setting up of a petition to be
presented to the Council and some people particularly Westgate on Sea business
owners and Westgate Town Councillors along with Westgate TDC Ward Councillors,
have already made public their opposition to this scheme . In the case of Westgate
, what particularly drives their opposition is that the proposal claims
"charging at some on street locations will help encourage drivers to park
within the off-street car parks" . There are no off-street car parks close
to central Westgate.
The Imperative Behind The Proposal.
Money is
the root of all evil". A sentiment not strictly true as we live in a world
where evil exists without financial dimensions, but it is true in this context.
The proposal make s it clear that the sole reason for its existence is to raise
income for the Council. In fact it is stated that an expected income of £90,000
in the first year of operation has already been written into the Council
Accounts Estimate in a breathtaking display
of corporate arrogant assumption . The need for the Council to raise funds has
been driven largely by reckless spending, incompetent financial decisions and
severe corporate maladministration in recent years which has reduced the
Council's contingency capability to about 25% of what it should be. None of
this is the fault of the motorists who are being expected to help make up the
Councils shortfall. The motive s of the Council are in direct conflict with the
advice given in the
Traffic Act Operational Guidance where on page 106 it state s unequivocally:- ''AUTHORITIES SHOULD NEVER USE PARKING CHARGES
JUST TO RAISE REVENUE OR AS A LOCAL TAX." The Council are deliberately
ignoring the Government advice available to them on this issue in their desperation
to satisfy a short term problem, but the consequences of which would put in
place restrictions and charges which would never be remove d and which would
undoubtedly expand in scope and rise in price in the future whenever the
Council feels the pinch. There would be no going back, if you are a motorist
and live in Thanet this proposal would affect you even if you do not live directly
or close to the areas presently targeted .
What To Do? To project your opinion either in
support or opposition to this proposal in an effective way you should put your
views preferabl y in written form to your TDC Ward Councillor - they seek office
on the promise that they will represent your views in Council and will reflect
those views when it comes to accepting or rejecting propose d change s to local
legislation. Doing nothing is not an option. If the
Councillors
do not receive sufficient weight of objections to the propose d scheme they may
consider that they have no mandate for opposition. You can access the TDC
website to get contact details of your Ward Councillor or simply phone TDC and
ask "who is the Councillor for my area?"
Spread The Word. With such a short
period of consultation it is vital that organisations throughout Thanet who represent
resident's views should bring this matter before its members for discussion as
soon as possible. Town and Parish Councils and Residents Associations should be
at the forefront , but any organisation should get involved as this proposal is
likely to affect so many Thane t residents. Tell your Councillor what you think
and make it plain if you supported them at the last Council Election, that now
you expect their support in return.
Reg Bell
Shop
Proprietor
45
Station Road
Westgate
on Sea
The views
and comments expressed her e are entirely my own and have no political intent
or effect other than to support true democratic process.
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