Since
I first published my blog about the current CPZ consultation I have been
lobbied by a diverse group of interested parties, including local businesses,
residents, charities, and environmental campaigners. The following hopefully
clarifies the approach I am taking on this issue:
My
current position is based on views put to me by constituents and
other interested parties, including local businesses, on whose behalf I am
trying to raise the level of debate, focussing on whether the proposals make
sense, and whether, if implemented, they might have different outcomes to those
suggested by the consultation. The consultation documents suggest, for example,
that the proposals will make it easier
for residents to park. It has been put to me that they may not, and that
they may also have a harmful impact on local businesses, markets, local
charities, and the wellbeing of older and more infirm people who rely on visits
from others, often made by car, and for whom the new visitor arrangements could
well be sufficiently complex to discourage visitors.
It
is a complex enough discussion to try and establish if the outcomes of the proposals will be as
intended, especially given that there seems to be very little empirical evidence to
support them.
If
we start trying to debate the wider issues, such as the merits or demerits of
parking controls in terms of the impact on the environment, whether these
controls might encourage or discourage car use, whether controls are intended to reduce car usage or simply regulate parking, whether they make the
environment safer or not, and whether we can afford to assume that all private
car use is inherently bad and should be discouraged, the debate will unravel
completely, which is why I am not attempting to address any of these points.
For
the moment, I am simply reflecting and representing what seem to me reasonable
and reasoned views that have been put to me regarding the current consultation,
as any Councillor should.
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