New plea for action over £30 permit to park plan

From the archive, first published Monday 23rd Jan 2006.

Opponents of a proposed parking scheme in Worcester's Arboretum are being urged to write to the council direct instead of signing a local petition.

The Worcester News reported on Friday, January 13, that more than 300 people have signed a petition against a plan to charge £30 for parking permits.

Bob Tannahill, chairman of the Arboretum Residents Association, said: "We are now in the legal consultation stage.

"What people who are opposed to the scheme need to do is write to the council and explain why they don't want the scheme instead of raising a petition."

Residents say that the problem with the scheme is that there are about 650 households in the area of which 120 already have off street parking. This means that just over 500 households will vie for about 300 parking permits.

During the consultation period at the end of last year, which saw members of the association deliver ballots to each household by hand, 51 per cent of respondents voted in favour of the scheme.

In order for the vote to be valid at least a third needed to reply, which they did.

Mr Tannahill added that if residents felt so strongly against the plan it is odd that they did not oppose it during that vote.

He also hit out at those who have accused the residents association of trying to impose the scheme on to the Arboretum.

He said: "We have never said we are in favour of the scheme. All we have done is work very long and very hard to inform residents.

"We are not making a recommendation. We are asking people to state their view."

He said the association has been in consultation with the city council but this plan is a council plan.

The deadline for writing to the council in opposition to the plan with reasons why is Thursday, February 2.

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