Parking plan fails to come up to scratch
THE original proposal for a new car park beyond the rail station, which received general agreement before the council elections in May 2007, was for 180 places. It was predicted the car park would pay for itself within 30 years, based on charging five da
THE original proposal for a new car park beyond the rail station, which received general agreement before the council elections in May 2007, was for 180 places.
It was predicted the car park would pay for itself within 30 years, based on charging five days a week.
With the removal of all landscaping, there are now more than 200 spaces, but the resulting stark appearance (never brought to the planning committee) is not worthy of this cathedral city.
It is already clear that the money raised for parking at weekends is unlikely to cover the cost of overtime payments to those needed to check whether the correct fees have been paid.
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We are told that a refund of bus fares into Ely can be claimed from Oliver Cromwell House and selected retailers, but the names of these selected retailers have not been publicised, and there are no charges (long may this continue) from the park-and-ride at the community college.
Enforcing time limits on weekend parking at The Grange and elsewhere will merely infuriate residents, and will not be cost effective. As a consequence, many cars are parked on roads near Back Hill and beyond.
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How much research has been done to find out how many residents are affected?
How much thought was given, before introducing these measures, to work out the consequences?
If only the controlling Conservative group on the district council had been prepared to consult their colleagues, we could have had a cheaper and less complicated system, which would not have caused such widespread resentment.
We could also have continued to give proper funding to ADeC!
JEREMY FRIEND-SMITH, District Councillor, Ely South
