Thursday 9 June 2011

Cllr Gareth Ratcliffe's letter to Roger Williams MP & Kirsty Williams AM

I am writing to you on behalf of Residents of Hay regarding parking in the town.

Since the takeover of the Civil enforcement officers by Powys county council there is a growing concern about parking for residents and businesses in Hay this is also repeated in many Powys towns.

I am looking to take a motion to the council in July and I was wondering if you would like to meet up and discuss the issue that is upsetting our residents.

I hope we can work together to support our residents on this issues and together we can get support to get Powys to bring forward their review.

I have put below the draft motion that I will be looking to take to council. Alongside this a local action group has been set up called the Campaign for a Realistic Approach to Parking in Powys. We have a Blog and an online petition with over 580 people signed up within one month. The PETITION READS

We the under signed believe it essential that Powys County Council bring forward by 6 months their plans to commence work on a county wide review of traffic management and residents’ parking schemes and start preparatory work in September 2011 so that the full review can be completed before the Council elections and when the current moratorium on spending ends in April 2012.

DRAFT MOTION TO COUNCIL

The following is a motion to full council.

Due to concerns being raised over the last couple of months when Powys county council took over the civil parking enforcement. Communities have raised concerns over a number of issues mainly.

1. Residents parking and policy
2. Parking restrictions
3. Traffic management
4. Review of off street parking

At the last meeting the portfolio holder stated that “The intention is to allow Civil Parking Enforcement (CPE) to settle down for a twelve month period during which time the outcomes of more frequent and targeted enforcement will become apparent. A review of parking restrictions and traffic management could then begin on a county-wide basis and include both on and off-street parking, and any demand for residents', lorry or coach parking, bus stop orders and possibly mandatory and advisory disabled parking.

The review will inform new draft policies, e.g. residents' parking (both on and off-street), and will also enable the Council to properly consult on any proposals to remove or introduce restrictions prior to their implementation.”

He also stated “it is anticipated that the review will generally commence in April 2012 when the outcomes of CPE are becoming established, although there may be some obvious anomalies that could be considered for earlier action. Given the current financial constraints it is doubtful when funding will become available".

Members introduced a moratorium on TROs some time ago as a budgetary measure and changes to legal Orders cannot be processed until the moratorium is lifted or when there are external contributions.

Following this I would like to put forward the following motion to the council.

From September 2011 this council will start to work on a residents parking policy with the assistance of the scrutiny committee. Also a review of parking restrictions, traffic management and off street parking with consultation with key stake holders such as town and community councils and chamber of trades so when the moratorium is expected to be lifted in April 2012 and the council will be able to move forward from this earlier point in 2012.

I look forward to speaking to you on this issue and I hope we can meet up as soon as possible and work together for our residents.

Best wishes
Cllr Gareth RatcliffeHay on Wye Ward
07974353121
Cyngor Sir Powys County Council
www.powys.gov.uk

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