Monday 25 October 2010, author: admin

Dear Colleagues,
Please find for your information texts of recent correspondance between myself and DCC Highways Dept.

From their response it seems likely to me that they have no intention of implementing any improvements to the RPS which could help businesses in the town in time for the Christmas shopping period.

In order to try and represent the needs of businesses in Totnes accurately I need to know two things:
1 Has your business experienced NO CHANGE whatsoever attributable to the RPS ?
2 Do you think that the Chamber should persue this matter and try for earlier improvements to this scheme?

You will notice that the first question attempts to quantify the number of businesses unaffected by RPS parking problems. Both the County Council officers and the County Councillor have expressed disbelief that there is a problem and I need to find out if this is based on facts or preferance.

So two questions, could be answered with two words. With 80 plus members, I'd love to have 80 plus replies.
Go NOW to thepaulwesley@btinternet.com
Thank you
Paul Wesley
Chair

Email from Chris Watkins the Area Traffic Engineer to Paul Wesley:

Dear Mr Wesley

My apologies for the length in time it has taken to respond. I had to consult with other parties before I could provide you with an answer.

As regards to a programme regarding the possible 'dual use' parking measures, I would say that we will be undertaking investigations in mid November with a view to having a design by late November. It is aimed that the scheme could be implemented in mid December, but this is dependant on the outcome of HATOC on 3rd December 2010. A report is being taken to this HATOC as resolved at the July HATOC, where Cllr Ward raised the issue.

More detail regarding the investigations will follow when they have been completed.

Chris Watkins
Area Traffic Engineer
Devon County Council
Area South Highway Management
Devon House, Brunel Rd, Newton Abbot



Email from Paul Wesley to Chris Watkins

Dear Chris, first of all very many thanks for arranging the last two meetings to reassess the Residents Parking Scheme (RPS) They haven't been easy meetings but without them there would have been no progress and much frustration.

As you are by now aware, an increasing number of businesses are extremely worried by the detrimental effects of the RPS These range from customers declaring that they will not return to Totnes because of the extreme difficulties of parking to employees unable to afford costs and/or access their places of work.And there are many variations on
these themes.

It was encouraging therefore to hear the range of positive ideas for at least short-term amelioration presented by yourself and John Halliday amongst others, at last Monday's meeting.Among these were the dual use schemes, extending the waiting times where they already exist, varying the waiting times according to the walking distance from the town centre etc etc.

The period of approximately six weeks prior to Dec.25th is absolutely crucial for many of the retailers in town, their survival for the rest of the year depending on this brief period. This of course is true for the whole country, not just Totnes.It is therefore important that all the short term adjustments are in place before that period.

*Can you please provide a schedule for implementation of the proposals that came out of last Monday's meeting.

*I would wish that this extra work load on your department were not necessary but I am sure that you understand why it is so and the importance that this work has for many members of the Totnes community.

Finally, may I emphasise and reiterate that I, in no respect, want to see the removal of the RPS which has undoubtedly been a welcome gift to many residents. But rather, we need to replace, as painlessly as possible, those aspects of the scheme where the disadvantages clearly and vastly outnumber any advantages.I look forward to us succeeding in this, the first step in that direction.

Yours sincerely,
Paul Wesley
Chair, Totnes and District Chamber of Commerce