A Plea from CRAP to our political masters

Below is an email sent out to those who have told us they wish to be kept in touch with the CRAP campaign.

We hope that the local community will be properly consulted before what we consider is an ill-thought out and probably unworkable Residents Parking Scheme is imposed on Hay-on-Wye.

We've tried to keep the email as neutral as possible but believe it very important we, the residents, locals and traders of Hay-on-Wye are given the opportunity to look at all available opportunities before any Residents Parking Scheme is imposed on us.

We suggested email that can be sent to: 

Gareth Ratcliffe (Hay-on-Wye County Councillor)

cllr.gareth.ratcliffe@powys.gov.uk

David Jones (Powys County Council - Cabinet Chair

cllr.david.jones@powys.gov.uk

Barry Thomas (Powys County Council - portfolio holder responsible for Highways, traffic management etc.)

cllr.barry.thomas@powys.gov.uk

Phil Jackson (Powys County Council - Transportation Manager)

phil.jackson@powys.gov.uk

Tony Caine (Powys County Council - Road Safety and Traffic Systems Manager)

tony.caine@powys.gov.uk

Kirsty Williams AM (Welsh Assembly Member for Brecon and Radnorshire)

Kirsty.williams@wales.gov.uk

Roger Williams MP (Member of Parliament for Brecon and Radnorshire)

roger.williams.mp@parliament.uk

There will be a meeting at Hay Community Centre at 10:00 tomorrow morning (Monday 24th June) when we hope to outline our concerns to Roger Williams MP.

Obviously the email can and should be adjusted to reflect the individual writer’s particular viewpoint and concerns but I hope the outline will serve as a basis for any message.

We/I write to state my/our concern about the lack of consultation that Powys County Council has undertaken with the community in Hay on Wye over their proposals for the introduction of Residents Parking in the town.

The council held a display during library opening hours at Hay Library from 3rd to 10th June promoted as “an exhibition of options for a Residents Parking Scheme in Hay-on-Wye”.  Unfortunately the only option displayed was a “Street Zone” proposal that offered a limited number of town centre residents the option of securing a Residents Parking Permit which would be valid only in the street adjacent to their homes.

You will be aware that other proposals have been put forward to the council including one produced by a local campaign, a “Whole Town” scheme that would allow all residents of the central town area the opportunity of buying a Residents Parking Permit which would be valid in all shared use parking streets in the central town area.

Since the exhibition, other proposals have emerged and feelings are running high among the community.  We believe it important that Powys County Council live up to the four fundamental principles of Openness, Inclusivity, Integrity and Accountability that underpin its commitment to good Corporate Governance to ensure that there is “credibility and confidence” in the Residents’ Parking proposals it offers the people of Hay-on-Wye.

Rather than rushing through a contentious plan, it is surely better to take more time and encourage the local community to examine all the different proposals and alternatives and ensure that the finally adopted Residents Parking Scheme serves the needs of traders and visitors to Hay as well as meeting the aspirations of as many of the town’s residents as possible.

In passing, we do suggest you look at the admirably produced, and very obviously extremely committed site, 'keephayfree' on Facebook.  IWe don’t agree with what the campaign is trying to do which we believe to be completely impractical, but we do believe they have a right to be heard.  keephayfree has been fairly vitriolic about CRAP and has wiped the responses we have tried to post to various of their claims - Ah well!

Best wishes