At last night’s Isle of Wight council Executive meeting, members considered the recommendation from the Scrutiny Committee that a ‘full parking review’ be undertaken before the introduction of changes to parking charges across the Island.
The Executive debated the call-in for around 30 minutes before they dismissed the recommendation of a full review.
The proposed changes
Highlights of the proposed changes include the introduction of charging for 19 car parks (formally 20 until Blackgang Viewpoint was removed from the list) that were previously free to use, the abolition of free parking in five towns one afternoon a week and extending seasonal charging to commence 1st March rather than 1st April.
As could have been predicted, the proposals attracted fierce opposition from residents and businesses with thousands of residents objecting, including nine petitions.
The recommendation
The recommendation from the Scrutiny Committee followed a call-in by three councillors of the decision made by the Executive at their July meeting.
After debate a special meeting, the recommendation read as follows:
THAT the Executive be recommended to review its decision with a request that a full parking review be undertaken before any future decision is made and that any proposals be put to full Council.
Accusation of recommendation being ‘spurned’
According to the live reporting of BBC’s political correspondent for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Jessica Parker, chair of the Scrutiny Committee, Cllr Geoff Lumley (Lab) expressed concern the Executive is “spurning” recommendations from his committee.
Defending his election promise to equalise parking across the Island, Cllr Richard Priest was reported as saying the car parking strategy left by former Conservative administration was “a real dog’s breakfast”.
Delays would ‘cost the council’
As had been mentioned at the call-in meeting, members were advised that any delay in implementing the changes to parking charges could “cost the council up to £40,000 depending on the length of the delay and the fact that it is taking place during the main holiday season”.
The council say the changes will be introduced ‘as soon as possible’.
