Saturday, 10 June 2006
Parking in Grantham
Last Wednesady night, over 70 people felt moved to pack the Arts Centre Gallery in Grantham as a show of strenth to demonstrate to the Council that residents parking is needed in Grantham. In fact so many people came to the meeting that it had to be swiftly relocated to the Council Chamber.
Although, this was a scheduled meeting in the Local area assembly calendar, Grantham Town Centre Residents Group had organised a a large public turnout following the last Council meeting at which the council had voted by 22 to 17 not to examine the issue. This following a request by the chair of the residents group and John Hurst Leader of the Labour Group.
The Cabinet are clearly backtracking on previous commitments to introduce residents parking when they are eventually given powers under decriminilisation of street parking. In response to the question from Libby Simpson, Chair of the Grantham Town centre Residents Group, John Smith the Cabinet member with responsibility said that the issue would be considered when decriminilisation is sorted out by the County council. This is a dilution of previous assurances on the issue.
Using the County Council as an excuse for their impotence is not acceptable and this was clear at the meeting. People cannot understand why SKDC are not working through the options and developing a scheme while waiting for the decriminilisation order to be granted. The residents group have been asking to work in partnership with the council on this issue for a while - all to no avail. So much for public engagement!
The idea that the 'council's hands are tied' perpetuated by a number of Tory and independent councillors misunderstands the powers that exist. SKDC can request powers to control and enforce parking at any time. It can request to the County Council the designation of schemes within the district. It can at least work out a plan for a scheme that is developed with a high level of public engagement. It can make residents parking a key element of its Town Centre Regeneration policy, and therefore give it the p
riority it needs. There are lots of options and for local councillors in other parties to say they can't do anything is a real failure of leadership.
The campaign continues.
Although, this was a scheduled meeting in the Local area assembly calendar, Grantham Town Centre Residents Group had organised a a large public turnout following the last Council meeting at which the council had voted by 22 to 17 not to examine the issue. This following a request by the chair of the residents group and John Hurst Leader of the Labour Group.
The Cabinet are clearly backtracking on previous commitments to introduce residents parking when they are eventually given powers under decriminilisation of street parking. In response to the question from Libby Simpson, Chair of the Grantham Town centre Residents Group, John Smith the Cabinet member with responsibility said that the issue would be considered when decriminilisation is sorted out by the County council. This is a dilution of previous assurances on the issue.
Using the County Council as an excuse for their impotence is not acceptable and this was clear at the meeting. People cannot understand why SKDC are not working through the options and developing a scheme while waiting for the decriminilisation order to be granted. The residents group have been asking to work in partnership with the council on this issue for a while - all to no avail. So much for public engagement!
The idea that the 'council's hands are tied' perpetuated by a number of Tory and independent councillors misunderstands the powers that exist. SKDC can request powers to control and enforce parking at any time. It can request to the County Council the designation of schemes within the district. It can at least work out a plan for a scheme that is developed with a high level of public engagement. It can make residents parking a key element of its Town Centre Regeneration policy, and therefore give it the p
riority it needs. There are lots of options and for local councillors in other parties to say they can't do anything is a real failure of leadership.
The campaign continues.
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