Lib Dems call on Labour to stop causing parking problems (Swindon Liberal Democrats)

Swindon Liberal Democrats <info@swindonlibdems.org>

Lib Dems call on Labour to stop causing parking problems

June 7, 2006 10:52 AM

Cllr Wood and Cllr Wiltshire taking action on the cause of parking problems

Liberal Democrat Councillor Martin Wiltshire has written to Labour MP Anne Snelgrove calling for her to lobby the Government to change their planning policy, allowing developers to develop flats and housing without being obliged to provide off-road parking.

New flats and houses and splitting of existing housing are a continuing problem in Town centre, Eastcott and Old Town. Where developers do not provide enough car parking for the additional people, more and more local residents are forced off the road.

Cllr Wiltshire said:

"This is one of the major problems of parking problems in our area, more cars are being crammed into our streets. The Labour government is ignoring the problem and the Tory Council often fail to stand up to them. The Conservatives response was the Draconian measure of reducing the number of parking permits per household to one.

"After public pressure they were forced into a U-turn, but a long-term solution will not be possible whilst this disastrous policy is still in place."

Cllr Wiltshire's letter to Swindon South MP Anne Snelgrove.

Excerpt from Cllr Wiltshire's letter:

I understand that you have been helping with the questionnaire for the review to the Residents Parking scheme. Thank you VERY much; it is greatly appreciated.

I should note that one of the biggest causes for the current stress on parking in RP zones is due to Planning Policy introduced by your government when the condition to supply off-road parking was removed when converting a residential home into flats for areas with RP and deemed close to a public transport system.

This has led to a veritable surge in these conversions and increased the number of cars trying to park in a fairly static supply of spaces. Is there anything you could do to get this policy amended? That would make a significant improvement to the area and stop what will only become a more acute problem in the future.

Best regards,

Cllr Martin Wiltshire

Eastcott ward member