Residents Anger over Lack of Consultation on Parking Permits

12.21.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 1st Jul 2008

Councillor Jenny Conroy

Jenny Conroy and Pam Varnsverry borough councillors for the St James Ward joined the St James Residents Association this weekend with a survey seeking residents views on the proposed changes to the parking permit scheme. Local residents feel that the County Council have failed to give them the chance to have a say.

Many local residents were waiting for a consultation form to arrive, but this has not happened. A few residents have sent in their views in response to the coverage in the Chronicle and Echo. The County Council have relied on residents taking the initiative and have not actively sought the opinions of the residents.

Cllr. Pam Varnsverry

'The County Council's consultation on their charge hike has been feeble', said Jenny Conroy. 'The Council should not put up the charges until they have written directly to residents and invited them to reply. As it is, they are leaving the St James Residents Association to do the work the Council should be doing themselves'.