The Council is consulting NOW on its plan to start charging for use of the Westbury Village car park. This is a proposal that's been rumbling on for years. We've campaigned against it all that time and managed to get it removed from one budget, but we were outvoted when it came back to the Council's Transport committee.
They are now at the stage of the statutory consultation on the legal order ("Traffic Regulation Order") that they have to make to start charging. The Council will have to read and respond in a report to every single response that they get, so you really can help by responding before Friday 12th December. You need to email your response to [email protected] quoting reference CAE/RGW/P-1337. And don't forget to copy in [email protected]
There are lots of reasons why this proposal is a bad idea and harmful to the Village, but at this statutory stage the only points that the Council has to take into account are ones that directly relate to their "Statement of Reasons", i.e. showing that the scheme won't deliver the benefits that they think it will. You can read the statement of reasons at https://www.bristol.gov.uk/.../10306-statement-of-reasons... and we've listed some of their reasons below, with suggested objections against them.
Reason - there will be better turnover of spaces
Objection - this scheme actually extends the amount of time that people can park. The car park currently has a three hours limit, this scheme would increase that to four hours.
Reason - the scheme will prevent commuter parking, making more spaces available for shoppers
Objection - the scheme allows businesses and the medical centre (who haven't asked for it) to apply for permanent parking permits, removing parking that would otherwise be available for shoppers. Currently the main times when there are no spaces available for shoppers are at rare peak shopping times, not during the working day when commuters would be using the car park.
Reason - the scheme will support local businesses.
Objection - since the closure of the privately-run Carlton Court car park earlier this year, businesses in the Village have reported a 30% reduction in footfall. This is clear evidence that restricting parking will actively harm local businesses, not support them.
