Article from the Hereford Times dated Thursday, May 5th 2011
by Jess Childs (jess.childs@herefordtimes.com)
A NEW pressure group has formed in Hay-on-Wye after Powys County Council said controversial parking regulations needed a year to "settle down" before any change could come.
Locals say 10 new county-wide civil enforcement officers are threatening tourism and that stricter regulations will force visitors from over-subscribed mail car parks into residential areas, or away from the town altogether.
Councillor Gareth Ratcliffe asked the council for a full review of residents' parking at a meeting last Thursday but was told a related policy did not currently exist.
"As a community we are powerless until this policy is in place," Coun Ratcliffe said, "But if we wait 12 months it will rip the heart out of Hay." Instead locals were encouraged to pinpoint problem spots with the town council ahead of a countywide review scheduled to begin in April 2012.
Interim measures to help residents and visitors park more easily were also ruled out because of cost.
The outcome has caused anger among householders who have already distributed 150 leaflets following claims the scheme was more about making money than safety after experts said it could raise £20,000 a year, a claim denied by highway officers.
Campaigner Nicholas Hankinson said locals had "happily lived with the sensible local police enforcement" until April.
He said "We shall collect thoughts and suggestions about resolving the parking problems in hay from as many people as possible over the next few months, and have established the Campaign for a Responsible Approach to Parking to focus attention on the issues involved."
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