Friday 23 July 2010, author: admin

Dear Members

This is the text of a letter, endorsed by the Executive Committee, which I have asked Councillor Anne Ward to present at a meeting of the Highways and Traffic Orders Committee (HATOC) next Friday. I hope to be able to present a submisssion on behalf of the Chambert of Commerce in person. Please will you send me your comments and responses by next Wednesday.

Thank you

Paul Wesley

Dear Councillor Ward,

I am writing to you in my capacity as Chair of the Totnes and District Chamber of Commerce concerning the Residents Parking scheme in this town.
Since its implementation I have received an increasing flow of enquiries and complaints regarding this scheme. The enquiries range from 'what consultation or research was carried out before the enormous effects of this scheme were visited on the community?' to 'did anyone consider beforehand the inevitable knock-on effect this would have on the adjacent streets?'
The reality is we do not have the answers to these questoions. There is no consultation process which offers us any genuinely researched information and analysis.

Complaints have ranged from, ' I had to drive around town 3 times to park my car and my staff are doing the same - what's green about that?' to 'if my takings continue to be down by so much on Fridays and Saturdays because customers are stopping coming in because they can't park - then I shall have to close' to 'nothing the County Council have done since I came here has made me so angry'.

I have also received complaints from residents that they are experiencing worse problems now than before. I am aware also that all this has been anecdotal but it represents genuine concerns which need to be addressed

We have not been given any evidence of current research or evidence about the knock-on effects of displacing commuters and visitors parkiing.There has been no follow-up research of residents' experiences (several have suggested carrying out their own surveys in their own streets) There has been no proper liason with the District Council who, in my conversations with officers ranging from the Chief Executive to the Car Parks Officer, seemed unbriefed, unconsulted and unprepared for the scheme.

We frequently suffer in this town from road projects which have not been properly reseached before implementation and my overarching concern is that such schemes cost the community large sums of money which we can ill afford especially in the current climate.Most recently there has been the so-called 'Consultation' at the Civic Hall which appeared to have no understanding of the proper standards of methodology of research, statementing of aims and objectives, methods and standards of analysis and dissemination of results.Again, what did this exercise cost the ratepayers? We have already had one farcical outcome from this event - as you are aware.

It is frequently asserted, correctly, that this latest scheme is designed primarily as an income flow for the Council. If the major consequence is to drive money out of the town then this intention is extremely short-sighted to say the least.

The Chamber would be prepared to carry out some research/consultation within a more competent research framework if requested by a body such as the Town Council or the Traffic Forum. In the meantime complaints and accusations will continue to flow, I suspect in increasing quantity.

Finally, I refer you to the Parsons Brinckerhoff Report no.HPE91543A/1 of October 2006
*6.2.1*  *On the basis of the capacity issues in areas, likely displacement figures and available car park capacity within Totnes it is recommended that a Residents' Parking Scheme is NOT introduced at this time.* (my emphasis)
Would you please inform us how much this report cost and the reason for ignoring it?

We now request an assurance that DCC will listen to the concerns and views of the Community on this matter. One worried correspondant has already been told "it will not be removed " which implies that, regardless of any facts which may emerge, the decision has already been taken. In reponse to a concern expressed about a reduction in visitor numbers the same correspondant was told "I am sure that it is nothing to do with Residents' Parking"  Could we perhaps see this officer's evidence?

Finally I request that there be an immediate halt to any further implementation of expansion of this scheme - that there be a proper assessment and report on the effects of the scheme as implemented so far - that there be no expansion, adjustment or abandonment of the scheme before full and competant research and consultation.

Sincerely, Paul Wesley (Chair)