Proposals to introduce on-street pay & display parking meters in Cranham covering Avon Road, Moultrie Way, Marlborough Gardens, Front Lane and Moor Lane have been rejected out of hand by the Highways Committee.

Cllr Clarence Barrett (Cranham RA) addressed the committee on a number points, explaining that a 90 minute period of free parking is already in place around Avon Road and works very well indeed. The proposals to install parking meters at £5,000 a unit would not be cost effective and be detrimental to local trade and shoppers alike. In addition, a proposal to introduce ‘cashless parking’ only along a small number of parking bays in Marlborough Gardens by the Cranham medical centre would be unworkable and not in the interests of users.

There were also numerous objections from local residents and traders who opposed the proposed scheme but supported the existing restrictions. In addition, Cllr Gillian Ford (Cranham RA) recently presented a 200 strong petition to the Council on behalf of local businesses and residents.

The Highways committee agreed that the scheme should not go ahead and rejected the proposals by a majority of 10 to 1.

Cllr Barrett said: “I am very pleased and grateful that the Highways Committee looked at these proposals in a very pragmatic and sensible way. It is not good value for money to spend £23,000 on parking meters which would take forever to pay back and, at the same time, be detrimental to local trade and shoppers.

“The existing 90 minute restriction works well, so why fix something that isn’t broken? Indeed, the existing 90 minute scheme should be extended to Front Lane and Moor Lane as it would solve any problems we have with ‘long stayers’ at a stroke”.

 

By Editor UCRA on 12th May 2015   /   News   /   Leave a comment