At the
Uxbridge Civic Centre council meeting on the Thursday
13th March, the public gallery were very pleased to hear
that the Conservative council of your borough are
listening to its electorate. It seems unanimous amongst
councillors from all parties that blanket CPZ
enforcement is not the answer to residential parking
problems.
A great deal of concern and CPZ debate was witnessed by
the public in attendance. It was clear that the
reactions that local government have been receiving is
prompting new efforts to find alternative solutions.
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Residents
outside of Uxbridge Civic Centre before the
council meeting 13/3/03 |
It was stressed by a number of councillors that
those roads that do suffer parking pressures should now be
canvassed individually and unique solutions found to
their parking problems.
It would appear that future proposals intended for parts
of Ruislip will now be dropped.
We would like to thank the council for respecting
the views of the borough residents and hope
that it will continue to listen to the electorate
for all future issues.
Note: 25/4/03
Since this meeting it is becoming unclear as to the true
intentions of this council. Re branding the same scheme
with a new name and additional problem causing schemes
are creeping in. Visit the home
page to keep up to date.
However...
It is not over for some of Hillingdon residents just yet.
Hillingdon borough council have still not withdrawn
the remaining CPZ proposals under consultation.
At the public meeting Cllrs Heywood and Puddifoot
stated that in towns such as Longford, they are awaiting the return of outstanding
CPZ consultation questionnaires to see if
residents want a CPZ in their roads.
Despite the adverse reaction from towns so far consulted
and admitting that the consultation process is flawed,
they are awaiting these results as if a CPZ is
still a viable proposition. Do not forget
that a CPZ is all that these residents have
been offered.
CPZ proposals are open to a great deal
of misinterpretation and it may be felt by
many that this scheme could be better than nothing. Throughout the Northwood Hills campaign against this
scheme, it has been discovered that a great deal of
residents did not understand the full implications of
their vote. They were unaware that they would not be guaranteed
a parking space. They were unaware that anybody with a
ticket or voucher could still park outside their houses
at any time. They were unaware of yellow lines in front
of their driveways that would stop even their own car
from parking outside their own homes. They were unaware
that even if they did not own a car they will have to
pay in writing, for vouchers for their friends to visit
to avoid a £60 fine.
It goes on and on...
All outstanding proposals for CPZ schemes should now be
dropped. CPZs have had enough consultation already.
Literally thousands of residents across the borough have
now objected to the CPZ proposal and do not want it
imposed under any guise. How much more evidence is
needed to get the message through?
The vast majority of roads in our towns require no scheme
at all and residents should not have to pay to park outside
of their own houses.
Areas around Hillingdon Hospital are requesting control
since the hospital car park has been reduced.
They want a form of control and this should be
addressed.
They are not making a
request for a CPZ!
These residents as
yet do not know the full implications of a CPZ.
We do not expect the council to offer a form of CPZ
solution to these residents.
Their views and ideas
must
be respected above all things.
If individual roads
do not want any scheme at all then this should also be respected.
Roads should not be sent any proposal before being
surveyed and residents spoken to directly. All residents
should be fully informed of every aspect until it is
completely understood. Nothing should ever be imposed.
On
April 1st, 2003, people just
ten miles away in Hammersmith & Fulham will
find the cost of permits to park outside their own
house increased from £20 to £85. The cost of a
second permit will rise to £400. And there is
NOTHING they can do about it.
They say it's not about money, but Hammersmith
make £12 million a year clear profit on their
CPZs. |
Pay and Display schemes are also still of great concern to our local high
street businesses. Consultations have shown the vast
majority of business owners are against them and it is
generally accepted that they will affect the economic
success of these businesses.
The council must now simply stop these schemes and
start investigating the requested alternatives put
forward by those that will have to live with them.
We hope that this
councils statements at the aforementioned
meeting are genuine. All of their latest actions
demonstrates that they are doing their best to listen and help. We hope that this level of concern
continues to be proven.
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