Swindon MP's Lip Service Only to Parking Crisis (Swindon Liberal Democrats)

Swindon Liberal Democrats <info@swindonlibdems.org>

Swindon MP's Lip Service Only to Parking Crisis

June 30, 2006 10:59 AM

Anne Snelgrove

South Swindon's MP Anne Snelgrove has proven willing to pay only lip-service to the severe parking problems facing Swindon residents, reveals Cllr Martin Wiltshire today.

Ms Snelgrove has been quick to appear as a champion of the residents parking cause in recent months. As Swindon's representative in Westminster it is her job to let the Government know that loopholes in legislation is allowing developers to flood cars on strained streets in Old Town and Town Centre.

Swindon Lib Dem spokesperson Cllr Wiltshire said: "Following the recent residents parking fiasco we asked Anne Snelgrove, MP for south Swindon, what could be done about planning legislation introduced by the Labour Government which has contributed to the pressures on parking where the conditions to supply off-road parking was significantly relaxed.

"Her response, a month later, was disappointing in that she failed to recognize the problem with the legislation, quoting draft guidance that suggested local authorities have the responsibility to ensure appropriate parking. It may be that the adoption of this draft document (PPS3) will make it harder for developers to get away with providing woefully inadequate parking provision.

"However, existing adopted policy is based on Government guidance (PPG3) that is quite clear that there should not be a burden on developers within a controlled parking area (residents parking scheme) to provide parking. If a Planning Committee goes against its own adopted policy, which we are now doing in some cases within the heavily oversubscribed RP areas, it will most likely be overturned on appeal. It was Government policy to reduce car use and this was a mechanism to do it.

"Instead of looking at the real problem, she has submitted a rather lame question to the minister for Communities and Local Government concerning consultation with respect residents parking. Although residents felt they had not been consulted, consultation was on a greater scale than is required and perhaps greater than for any local issue. It was a bad decision that ignored the comments made by those consulted at the time and one that we have consistently criticized as being unfair and not fit for purpose.

"We now have a review underway which will have even more consultation and we are hoping that this time the Tory administration will make a fairer and more useful policy. We would also call on the government to revoke guidance that limits the restrictions Local Authorities can impose with respect parking."