Letter written to The Hereford Times in response to an article published on Thursday 22nd August
Dear Mr Knight
I write to you to correct some
misunderstandings and unfortunate inaccuracies in the article ‘Anger over
planned fee for residents’ parking’ published last week in the Hereford Times.
In 2011 Powys County Council took over
responsibilities for Civil Parking Enforcement from Dyfed Powys Police and
appointed eight new traffic wardens to police parking restrictions throughout
the county. Traffic restrictions which
to that point had been enforced with some degree of latitude resulted in chaos and
considerable local anger.
CRAP (the Campaign for a Realistic Approach
to Parking) was founded to develop a community approach to updating parking
restrictions in this small and ancient town which would as far as possible meet
the needs of residents, local traders and our important visitors.
Our plans, developed after local
consultation recommended that there should be no residents’ parking in the
business centre of the town whilst existing restricted parking zones in more
residential outer areas should be adapted to allow mixed residents and
visitors’ parking. We also suggested that the few currently
unrestricted streets in the town be brought into the scheme and proposed that
more parking be provided by use of the largely underused cattle market car park. In November 2012 our plans were submitted to
Powys County Council who promised to consider them in their proposals.
Shortly afterwards, Powys announced that
because of local pressure and the work already done by CRAP, Hay-on-Wye would
be used as a model for a comprehensive new parking scheme which if successful,
would subsequently be rolled out across the county.
In June 2013, Powys mounted a public
consultation and exhibition of “options for a Residents Parking Scheme in
Hay-on-Wye”. Unfortunately only one ‘option’
was offered and Powys’ street based proposals limited the opportunity to apply
for a residents’ parking permit parking only to properties adjacent to specific
streets. Most residents of the town
centre would not be offered any parking or the opportunity to vote in any
referendum.
It is from the date of this exhibition that
most concern has been raised and Burton Paul’s campaign ‘Keep Hay Free’
started.
Your article stated that households in
Castle Street, Church Street, Bear Street, Lion Street and Heol y Dwr Council are
currently free to park on and would be allocated one parking space each,
costing £65 with an additional permit costing £150. Not correct, we must point out that in fact Castle Street Church Street Bear Street Lion Street
Powys County Council’s June proposals call
for a single permit to be allowed to each qualifying property at an annual cost
of £65, no second permit would be allowed.
Hay is a small and ancient town and there will always be very limited
parking availability, however CRAP proposed, whilst appreciating there would
never be sufficient spaces, that two permits should be allowed for each
household and that the annual cost should be £26 each.
Burton Paul complains that “it is only the
residents of those five streets who have been consulted and local businesses
have been shut out”. Not correct. There has been the already mentioned public
consultation and numerous questionnaires were completed by members of the
public attending. Unfortunately Powys
has chosen not to divulge the information and opinions gathered.
Your article starts with the statement that
families could be faced with annual costs of up to £365 to park outside their
own homes. Under Powys plans, residents
will be allowed to park only one vehicle outside their home at a cost of £65
with any other vehicles parked in the town centre car park at an annual cost of
£150 each. CRAP’s plans would allow up
to two vehicles to be parked in the streets at a cost of £26 each.
Mr Burton lives in a household of three
people who between them own four cars.
It is entirely his right to own as many cars as he wishes and to park
them wherever he may; but Hay-on-Wye is a small town with a medieval layout and
if we choose to live here, we must live with its limitations.
We can entirely understand the concerns of
residents living in the few currently largely unrestricted streets but believe
the only correct way to meet as far as is possible, the parking needs of
residents, traders and visitors is to bring the whole town into an equitable
system.
C.R.A.P.
(Campaign for a Realistic Approach to Parking)
