New debate on residents parking is 'waste of money'

Supporters of two pilot schemes for residents parking in Bristol have slammed a call-in meeting to discuss the issue further as a waste of time and money.

The city council cabinet approved pilot residents parking zones (RPZ) for Brandon Hill and Kingsdown at a meeting last month but the Conservatives called it in.

This means another panel will meet on Monday to discuss the validity of the decision, which would see residents in two parts of the city having to pay for the right to park, and could refer it to full council for a vote.

If given the go-ahead, the proposal would see households having to pay £30 for one vehicle, £110 for two and £310 for three, and up to £50 on visitor parking passes.

The pilot schemes were approved following a consultation exercise during the summer, but many condemned it as unfair and biased.

Stephen Perry, of the group Yes to RPZ, said: "The review of the proposals to introduce two pilot resident's parking schemes is an unnecessary use of public time and money.

"This is a cynical and frivolous move with one thing in mind, to cause delay in the introduction of the pilot schemes.

"The Conservative group opposes any residents parking scheme of any kind in the city.

"The Conservatives are seeking to thwart the expressed wishes of the majority of residents in the pilot areas in Clifton and Kingsdown.

"It would appear the group places the car owners' rights to do whatever they want with their vehicles in this city above those of people who wish to live a quiet and normal life. They clearly believe the car is king.

"The claims the consultation was flawed are spurious.

"No definition of a benchmark for good practice in consultation has been given or described. What is meant by flawed?

"We believe the consultation was on balance fair. If it was imperfect in any way it was because residents around the city were originally asked to vote for a Draconian scheme with 24-hour restrictions and no flexibility.

"If they didn't like the idea of this rigid scheme, they had no choice but to vote no."

The pilots were approved after just over half of the survey respondents in Brandon Hill and Kingsdown said 'yes'.

But the majority of areas in Bristol said 'no' and many fear introducing schemes in one area will push parking problems elsewhere.

Campaign group Keep Parking Free is calling on supporters to turn up to Monday's meeting, at 5.30pm at the Council House.

Spokesman Bernard Cooke said: "The decision to go ahead with the pilot zones was based on a public consultation carried out during the summer holidays, which was widely criticised as biased and unfair.

"Liberal Democrat councillors said they were disappointed with the quality of the consultation, that it was flawed and either a sham or a shambles.

"This was confirmed by a well-known polling organisation that told us the questionnaire lacks objectivity and makes unwarranted assumptions."