Plenty of U-turns when it comes to parking charges

Do we believe Labour when they say no more parking charge hikes in Southampton? They made a similar promise before the 2012 council election but as soon as they were in power they set about increasing charges and introducing new ones like residents parking first permits and night time city centre charges. They also voted through plans for charges for shoppers in district centres like Shirley and Portswood. If Labour are genuinely having a rethink and accepting that their approach up until now was wrong, they should scrap their first permit charges and night time charges which will hit residents and businesses in the pocket.

Empty Labour promises before an election have been proved worthless. As the council leader himself admitted himself; much of Labour's 2012 election manifesto was simply an election tactic.

Plans to Demolish Southbrook Rise?

Several weeks ago demolition signs went up around Southbrook Rise in Millbrook Road East. The building has been empty since the City Council moved out of the offices. 

I have had lots of questions from local people wondering what will happen with the site. No one at the City Council's planning department seem to know anything about it however planning approval would been needed if the building was pulled down. I am trying to find out what is going on. It would be a shame if the building was pulling as its a reasonably attractive office block. I am hoping its not going to be another big block of flats without proper parking. Parking in the area is already very difficult and with plans for night time parking charges in the city centre the local area will suffer even more from commuter parking. More flats would be the final straw!

UPDATE: 21/04/13: I recently raised concerns about the possibility of Southbrook Rise in Millbrook Road East being demolished as demolition signs had gone up around the site. I have been in discussion with the planning department at the council and they have now informed me that the site won’t be demolished and that a planning application (13/00467/FUL) has been received for a proposed single storey new building (reception) and internal refurbishment of the whole building. I am still unsure as to why there are demolition signs on the fencing to front of building as they are not proposing to demolish.

Update on the Lawsons Application 84-88 Millbrook Road East

I regret to inform you that despite the council rejecting the recent planning application on the former Lawsons site, that it was granted planning permission by the Planning Inspector on appeal. The council rejected the application because of concerns about over development and lack of parking and the design. It is therefore a real blow that it has now been given the go ahead. This means that all we can do is appeal to the good will of the developer to ensure that the development is as in keeping with the area as possible. 

I would also be interested in your views on local parking. With this new development and also council plans to charge in the city centre for evening parking, there will be more pressure on local parking. If you have views on whether the hours of the local residents' parking scheme should extended until later into the evening I would be pleased to hear from you.

Labour Plans To Charge You To Park Outside Your Own Home

Labour have announced plans to introduce new charges for residents who live in permit parking areas in the city. Until now residents with permit parking have not been charged for a permit for their first car. Labour made no mention of their plans for first permit charges in their election manifesto last year and instead they claimed that they would reduce parking charges in the city if elected. Another broken Labour promise!

Parking is a massive problem in Freemantle, made all the worse by all the extra flats that were built without proper parking provision under the last Labour Government. To now charge people who are already struggling to park in their road is outrageous. 

Labour Budget Will Hit Freemantle Ward Hard

As a local councillor representing the Freemantle Ward I was extremely disappointed and angered to read the budget plans of the new Labour Administration. Many of the cuts and hikes in charges will disproportionately hit those that I am elected to represent.

Labour came into office full of promises and as predicted, one by one they are breaking them. They immediately u-turned on their pledge to keep Oaklands Pool open. They promised to invest more in SureStart and they are cutting £1m a year from this service. They promised to spend more on libraries, yet they are slashing opening hours, bringing local libraries to the verge of closure. Shirley Library is having its hours cut by 15 hours a week. Pensioners are having their council tax raised by 12%, despite a last minute pre election promise by Cllr Richard Williams not to do this. Even the weekly bin collection was due to be axed and it was only spared because of a grant from the Government.

A 35% reduction in street cleaning in local roads will mean lots of more litter. Local residents associations are fighting an ongoing battle to keep the area clean, with regular litter picks and this will come as a real slap in the face to many people. I am very worried about the cuts to the upkeep of local parks. We already have problems with drinking in Lake Park and cans and glass left behind as well as the ongoing problem of dog fouling. We have more and more young families in Freemantle and keeping the local parks clean, tidy and safe is essential.

Parking is one of the biggest problems faced by residents in Freemantle Ward. I have fought for a long time to stop new charges coming in for first permits in residents’ parking zones. Labour tried to bring in charges last time they were in power and now they are back they are quick to charge residents to park. Worse still this doesn’t even guarantee residents a space in their road. Residents’ Parking enforcement stops at 6pm so many residents will end up paying for permits and much of the time they will be worthless. Labour plans to introduce on street parking charges in the evenings in the city centre will mean more workers parking their cars in local roads after 6pm, making it even harder for residents to park. Also charging people to park when they are shopping in Shirley will hit local businesses hard, damaging trade and costing jobs, at a time when everyone is struggling.

Labour have not thought through their proposals. They were elected with no plan and no vision for the city and now residents are suffering the consequences.

Your Parking is Safe

The first Cabinet meeting of the new Conservative Council was held last Monday (2nd June).

Southampton's Conservative Councillors have announced that they are scrapping the policy of the previous Lib-Lab Administration to charge residents in residents parking zones for permits for their first cars.

Residents' Parking Schemes

Formal public consultation for the proposed Silverdale Road and Cawte Road Residents' Parking Schemes begun last week.

A traffic regulation order was published on 28th November. Notices will go up on lamp posts and an advert in the Echo to advise of the formal consultation period. This ends on 7th January. It’s been slightly extended to take account of the Christmas holiday period.

Assuming all goes well the scheme is set to be implemented by the end of March.

Copies of the plans can we obtained from the Highways and Parking Services Department on 8083 2337.

Residents Parking

The results of the recent residents parking surveys in Silverdale and Cawte Road were as follows:

Silverdale

74.4% of residents favoured a residents parking scheme for the whole road, operating 8am - 6pm, Monday to Saturday, with 2 permits available.

Cawte

79.2% of residents favoured a residents parking scheme operating 8am - 6pm, Monday to Saturday. 2/3rds of residents also favoured additional restrictions in the evenings.

Freemantle's councillors will therefore be pushing the council to implement these schemes as soon as possible. There will be a further chance for residents to object once the plans are formally drawn up and put out for consultation.

Residents Parking

Surveys of residents' views on parking schemes in Silverdale Road and Cawte Road were carried out a couple of months ago.

I am told by council officers that the reults have been analysed and that there is overwhelming support for introducing schemes in these two roads.

I will post an update on this when I have all the facts and figures and after I have been briefed on the matter.

Residents Parking

This week the Council is planning to send out two surveys about possible residents parking schemes in Freemantle Ward: Silverdale Road and Cawte Road.

These surveys were due to be out by the end of March however there have been delays, in part due to concern about getting the wording right.

I am very sorry about the delay. Have been putting a great of pressure on the council to get these matters sorted as they are well overdue.