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 are all currently subject to restricted parking whilst Lion Street and Heol y Dwr are part unrestricted and part restricted. 

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)