Stamford Parking Update

After much lobbying, Lincolnshire County Council has, at the eleventh hour, agreed a framework to allow SKDC to issue temporary permits which will allow residents exemption from the one and two hour time-limits on-street.

SKDC Launches Its First Consultation on a Residents' Parking Policy

SKDC has now finally published a draft Residents’ Parking Policy and sent it out for consultation.  Responses to the consultation must be sent to them by Friday 5^th October.

Excellent coverage on BBC Radio Lincolnshire this morning

There was excellent coverage of our campaign on BBC Radio Lincolnshire this morning. Listen to it here on iPlayer: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p00x9xsr/The_Breakfast_Show_with_Rod_Whiting_05_09_2012/

There are two interviews and the coverage begins 2:38:10 into the programme.

SKDC Press Release

SKDC has posted a press notice on its website, here:

http://www.southkesteven.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=4643

We await the arrival of the actual consultation documentation.....

Ominously, the press notice is very short on detail about interim measures to assist residents immediately after enforcement commences.

WHAT WOULD BE THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAYS TO PROTEST?

What would be the most effective ways to protest against SKDC's totally inadequate response to our requests for a permit scheme to be brought in before parking enforcement begins later this year?

We've already asked people to consider a picket of the next SKDC Cabinet meeting on 1st October, but please add your comments below about the sort of protests you think we should be considering....

The Latest from South Kesteven District Council

In an email to one of the campaigners in central Stamford on 21 August, SKDC Leader Mrs Neal said:

SKDC "One Year Delay" reported in Stamford Mercury

http://www.stamfordmercury.co.uk/news/local/crack-down-on-rogue-motorists-in-stamford-and-the-deepings-to-start-in-october-1-4100313

Another letter to SKDC leader, Mrs Neal

The following letter was sent a couple of days ago to Mrs Neal.

Dear Mrs Neal,

Has SKDC done ANYTHING?

I don't know why Linda Neal is giving the impression of supporting the cause but not seemingly getting anything done in a timely manner. In recent correspondence from her she was still expressing what she "aims" to do, rather than what she "is" doing.  Worrying. Why is she so behind with this? 

Latest letter to SKDC Leader, Linda Neal

Dear Mrs Neal,
Thank you for re-iterating your political commitment on this issue, and for doing this so promptly.

Latest from The Stamford Mercury

Good coverage of the Stamford campaign in the Stamford Mercury on Friday 6th April: http://www.stamfordmercury.co.uk/news/local/residents-continue-to-call-for-parking-permit-scheme-to-be-introduced-in-stamford-1-3709724

STAMFORD: Response from SKDC Leader Mrs Neal.....

Mrs Neal last night sent out what appears to be a standard response to the many emails sent to her following the reporting of her recent comments......

A Summary of the current situation on the Stamford Campaign

Why is a Residents’ Parking Permit Scheme needed?

Many Stamford residents live in properties which have no off-street parking on streets which have a two-hour parking restriction during the daytime Monday to Saturday. This two hour limit has not been enforced for the past ten years, but enforcement will begin in the autumn when responsibility for all street parking  passes from the Police to the Lincolnshire County Council.  The enforcement will cause much inconvenience and expense to people who live in properties which have no off-street parking, particularly on Saturdays and particularly to those, mostly retired people, who do not often need to use their cars during the day.

What sort of scheme is being asked for?

All of the various residents’ groups in central Stamford agree that ‘Residents’ Only’ parking bays would be inappropriate in a situation where there is a scarcity of parking.  We have no problem with the idea that parking should always be on a ‘first-come, first-served’ basis.  We should simply like to have permits exempting us from the two-hour parking restriction on streets. We are not asking for free parking in SKDC car parks, and accept that our permits will not be free because the scheme should not be subsidised by our fellow council-tax payers. As reported in the Mercury last year “This is not a big ask”.

How can a scheme be brought in?

There has been much debate between LCC and the District Councils about this, but LCC has now adopted a policy on parking which allows District Councils to propose residents’ schemes for it to approve.

So what’s the problem?

Before Christmas, Linda Neal, the Leader of our District Council, the SKDC, was for the first time saying that she supported Residents’ Parking in Stamford and that SKDC would bring in a scheme. This was reported in the Stamford Mercury and was stated in emails she sent to campaigners.  On that basis it was our belief that SKDC was readying itself to start consultations on introducing a scheme.

However, last week, in an extraordinary volte-face, Mrs Neal told the St Peter’s Community Group that “Introducing a permit parking scheme is entirely outside the control of the District Council, and there is nothing that SKDC can do to initiate any permit parking scheme."  This is demonstrably untrue, and implies that Mrs Neal cannot be trusted to keep her word.  What is particularly despicable is that she has made this declaration at a point where there is very little time now left to have a scheme in place when enforcement begins in the autumn……

Why should you help us?

If residents who live on streets with a two-hour limit risk being fined when enforcement begins they will park on the nearest street where there are no restrictions, thus simply moving the problem of parking elsewhere in the town, so the problem does affect us all. 

What can you do?

Please support us by emailing SKDC Leader, Mrs Neal l.neal@southkesteven.gov.uk  , the Stamford Mercury smeditor@stamfordmercury.co.uk  , & BBC Lincolnshire lincolnshire@bbc.co.uk  to make your views known.

Unhelpful comments from SKDC Leader, Mrs Linda Neal

South Kesteven District Council leader, Mrs Linda Neal, attended a question and answer session with Stamford's St Peter's Community Group recently and was asked about Residents' Parking Permit Schemes for the town. The relevant section of the minutes of this meeting are reproduced below.

In them Mrs Neal states "Introducing a permit parking scheme is entirely outside the control of the District Council, and there is nothing that SKDC can do to initiate any permit parking scheme.". This clearly contradicts the stated policy of Lincolnshire County Council that District Councils should propose any schemes they wish to operate in their areas to LCC for approval.

Clarification will be sought from Mrs Neal to ensure that SKDC will make such a proposal to LCC for Stamford as soon as possible....

Response from South Kesteven District Council...

Mrs Neal, the leader of SKDC has just sent the following response.....

We are still talking, but is SKDC listening?

After the good news reported in the last post here just over a fortnight ago, a number of activists from across Stamford met and wrote the following letter to Mrs Linda Neal, the Leader of South Kesteven District Council.