Carol Vorderman hits out at Bristol parking zones
Television presenter and maths boffin Carol Vorderman is backing the campaign against residents' parking zones in the city.
The former Countdown presenter told the Bristol Post that she believes the proposed restrictions could destroy the city's sense of freedom.
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Carol Vorderman has hit out against plans for parking zones in Bristol
Ms Vorderman moved to the Bristol area two years ago and said she has such a passion for the city that she is "like a one-woman tourist office."
But having lived in places with residents' parking zones (RPZs), she believes it will double the stress levels of Bristolians.
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The proposals would limit parking in some areas to permit holders during office hours and possibly part of the evening.
Residents would pay for permits so they can park in the streets around their home, but this would not guarantee a space.
Ms Vorderman, who lives in Clapton-in-Gordano but spends a lot of time in the city, said: "I am very, very anti the parking restrictions they want to impose.
"When you live in London, or anywhere else, you can't get close to a shop. Clifton parking is nothing, but when you start putting restrictions in it adds stress to everybody's life.
"In London the issue of a car adds two hours to everyone's day, and there is the stress you face when you go and meet someone for lunch.
"It probably doubles people's stress and that is the way it should be here.
"Bristol is a very free city and I think if the parking restrictions are brought in it would be awful."
Thousands of residents living in suburbs on the outskirts of the city centre were sent questionnaires last June asking for their views about the proposed parking restrictions.
The results showed that people were generally against a scheme for parking zones but most support came from Kingsdown and a small area of Clifton, so Bristol City Council started work on a pilot scheme.
Letters are due to be sent out to homes in Kingsdown and Clifton, Brandon Hill – a section to the west of Brandon Hill and north towards Richmond Hill – as part of a consultation for the pilot zones.
The council will finalise plans before asking residents to vote yes or no to the scheme.
Ms Vorderman said: "The man who was in charge of parking (Mark Bradshaw) said that it is not someone's right to park outside their home, but this is about living a life, it is not about a political human right. It is about making life as pleasant as you possibly can.
"Bristol is perfect because you can live within a 10-minute walk of the city centre and it is fantastic.
"I adore Bristol. I absolutely love it. I'm like a one-woman tourist office.
"Don't destroy it. Bristol has a gorgeous sense of freedom about it, which is unique to a city of this size, and I have lived in most cities."
Bernard Cooke, of campaign group Keep Parking Free, who have been fighting the proposed parking zones said: "I am delighted to hear that Carol shares a great many of our views and concerns and it backs up what we have heard from lots of other people around the country of the experience of other cities.
"Although RPZs seem like a solution they are not, and they make the situation worse."
Supporters of the proposed scheme set up a Yes to RPZ campaign group in response to the "no" campaign.
Stephen Perry, who set up the group, said: "The pilot zones are very close to the inner city and the controlled parking zones in the city centre itself, so our parking is much more of a problem than in many other areas with people using our area as a car park for business and social reasons.
"We argue that our problems are much exacerbated by that proximity and it means that people who should have a freedom to park wherever they want to are simply harming others."
Councillor Jon Rogers, executive member for transport and sustainability, said: "We are gratified that Carol Vorderman is so positive about Bristol. I agree that it is very special here.
"The freedom that Carol and so many others value so highly, is already achieved by striking a balance which encourages respect and deters obstructive or inconsiderate parking.
"In some areas residents may argue that the situation is out of balance, and that the free parking is affecting their freedom to enjoy their own neighbourhood.
"This is why we are consulting with residents most seriously affected to design a proposal.
"But it is their ultimate decision whether or not we proceed."
Comments
by Lord Clifton, Clifton
Tuesday, March 24 2009, 10:29PM
“I'm with Carol. Last summer's "RPZ consulatation" (ahem) was nothing short of a joke being done while all the students were at home and everything. My house price and my personal satisfaction benefit from living near good local services - and before all you usual suspect cycle loving anti-celeb bristol greenies start moaning which you will, at least I'm being honest. Bring in RPZ and we'll destroy it. If you want to live near good local shops, services and businesses then you've got to expect commuter parking. Commuters have a right to get to work too, just like you city centre living folk. Let's make no mistake here, the real problem lies with council and it's failure to implement a quality local transport system. Why didn't they make it a condition of the Cabot Circus development for a tram system to have been implemented say from the bus station down Temple Way via CC to Temple Meads, for example? It would have been a great start for a tram system to be developed around this central hub minimising car use around the city. Obviously my comments are falling on deaf ears...Is anyone at the council listening?”
by Janet, Wick
Tuesday, March 24 2009, 6:22PM
“Sue I don't think it's fair what you say, where are people suppose to park their cars? We all need a say on this, I pay road tax as well.”
by Sue, kingsdown/cotham
Tuesday, March 24 2009, 1:31PM
“This is a very contentious issue, and maybe (to give her the benefit of the doubt) Ms Voderman did not realise. It is actually the business of people who live in the area where the proposals are, to get involved in the next stage of consultation and get their views heard. Really it's now down to us, Ms Voderman I would imagine is probably feeling a little silly today, as the article probably took her out of context to promote their own anti CPZ agenda. She should take advice next time!
Sue Kingsdown”
by Alex, Mangotsfield
Tuesday, March 24 2009, 7:21AM
“Despite the plethera of vitriolic comments made by certain members of this usually friendly city, against Carol Vorderman I think the lady is orrect in making a point against what is just another way of extorting more & more money from the populace, this year £30, next year £60,& so on ad infinitum, It is high time that the dissarrayed council had a re-think on the real problem,not parking but how to keep the traffic moving, now that would be an achievment.”
by Bristol Traffic, Bristol
Monday, March 23 2009, 8:47PM
“According to the EP (so it must be true) she has a flat in clifton; the sprogs go to Clifton College. The times says it was a 2-bed apartment for £1M on Bridge House, overlooking the bridge. But they imply it is for the husband, Des Kelly.
1. They would have got a resident permit for 2 vehicles for her flat, had they voted for the plan.
2. £1M? In 2007? Multiply that by 0.65 and give us your current estimate of the worth of the house.
3. if the RPZ would kill the city, has she noticed that both areas that voted for it already abut the city centre RPZ? Or doesn't she go that far into town?”
by Birbeck, Montpelier
Monday, March 23 2009, 7:03PM
“My former London street was a RPZ, 7 days a week from 8am-22hrs, but it didn't guarantee a parking space, although it often was easier to find one. The most frustrating thing about such a zone is the visitors' permits, and there was a limit to the number of visitors' permits that could be purchased each year; also, I felt very guilt popping by during the daytime to visit a cousin in a district closer to central London, knowing that the visitor's permit was quite pricey.
What we really need to tackle is why we to pay to park in Bristol's centre after 18.30hrs, if it's free to park in central London after that time why are we charged?
PS I thought Ms Vorderman also had an apartment in Clifton.”
by steve, bristol
Monday, March 23 2009, 6:46PM
“if i
seen her in bristol myself i would say it to her face you dont know me i always say what i think graham p”
by Helen, Clifton Wood
Monday, March 23 2009, 6:42PM
“I guess the article itself put Ms Vorderman up as a 'celebrity endorsement ' for the Keep Parking free campaign so it's not too surprising that there's a bit of a backlash against her personally. It may well be that her opinion has been taken out of context & just one aspect of a fuller interview has been chosen by BEP, in order to provoke the RPS debate again. Grahame P I have to ask where have you been this last 6 months that you've avoided knowing ANYTHING about the RPS debate? Astonishing!!”
by Grahame P, Central Bristol
Monday, March 23 2009, 5:57PM
“People comment on Bristol issues from all over the West Country but don't get those opinions slated just because they don't happen to live here. Unless they're a celebrity it seems. Carol Vorderman expresses an opinion and people can either agree or disagree with it. Except some people don't just do that; they resort to personal attacks, seemingly relishing the opportunity to have a pop at someone who has a high public profile. It's not the opinion they're attacking at all, it's the person. Remember Sam Mason and the anonymous vitriol poured over her by people who clearly resented her perceived celebrity status much more than the actual issue?
So why is it that a significant few have such an issue with someone having a bit of fame that it seems to work them into a lather of personal resentment? I haven't a clue whether parking zones are a good idea or not. I welcome someone with a public profile bringing the issue to my attention and taking a view on it, because if they hadn't bothered I probably wouldn't have read the piece. But I don't for one nanosecond get the small-minded bile-filled mentality of resentment some people seem to have for others just because they're 'famous'! Some in here are even having at denigrating HOW famous she is! It's quite amazing how many spiteful, resentment-filled creeps there are in Bristol. But you never meet them in real life, only anonymously.”
by steve, b
Monday, March 23 2009, 5:56PM
“ms vorderman is becoming a fuddy duddy why should she comment on cpzs she dosent even live in bristol or pay anything towards the running of the council its about time she got herself a proper job”