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Parking charges U-turn is only half the story
June 16, 2008 1:29 PM
Liberal Democrats have welcomed the announcement by the B&NES Conservative Cabinet that they are going to rethink evening parking charges in Bath. However the U-turn will apparently only cover Avon Street and Charlotte Street car parks - charges in pay and display car parks will therefore presumably still apply till 8 p.m. In addition, the other parking charges which the Conservative Cabinet imposed in March will still be implemented.
Don Foster MP and Lib Dem Councillors have consistantly opposed the Tories parking charges strategy
City MP Don Foster commented, "On the face it these changes look like a concession. But they will only affect two of the car parks in Bath. What about Manvers Street where Special Constables have to park - are they still going to be disadvantaged? I await the Cabinet member's new decision paper with interest, and I hope this not just a false concession in an attempt to get the public off his back."
Councillor Ian Gilchrist (Liberal Democrat, Widcombe) added, "The Cabinet member's response deserves no more than half a cheer. While it is refreshing to see evidence of ears in action at last, the latest concession does not address complaints about residents permit charges (up 65%) or visitors' permits (up 500%) or the introduction of Sunday charging in car parks.
"The new flat rate of £1 for evening parking only applies at two of the city centre car parks which, I suspect, residents will quickly forget and visitors have no hope of knowing about. I can foresee a great number of people getting caught by new full-rate charges and resentment arising as a result.
"From the stated fact that implementation will be from September one can only draw the conclusion that this as far as he is prepared to go and the so-called consultation is, as previously, a sham. I am sorry to say I cannot endorse this half-hearted response to residents' legitimate complaints about the new scheme."
Councillor Caroline Roberts (Liberal Democrat, Newbridge) said, "Although we welcome the Cabinet member's response to sustained pressure, I can't help but reflect that had a proper consultation been carried out before the original decision in March, then a lot of time and money could have been saved.
"The Cabinet member had a chance to revise his decision in April when we called it in, but this was scuppered by his own party who voted to dismiss the call-in!"
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