Save us from this parking charge hike (From Bucks Free Press)

Save us from this parking charge hike

11:25am Friday 5th March 2010 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(0)

EVEN I have to accept that councillors are on a hiding to nothing when they make difficult decisions on our behalf.

We elect them to use their wisdom to rule our towns, districts and counties, but then all declare we could do better when we disagree with what they decide.

Sometimes, the best course of action is the least popular one, and the best politicians are the ones with the thick skins who do what they believe is right – and not what will win them friends and acclaim.

So even though I utterly disagree with Wycombe District Council’s decision to close Holywell Mead open air swimming pool, I respect councillors’ right to make such a decision.

Even though I believe they were totally wrong, I accept that making tough choices like this is what they were elected to do on our behalf in these cash-strapped times.

I also have to accept it took some courage to take such an unpopular course of action. My earnest wish is that they now demonstrate similar courage by owning up to the fact they made a mistake and setting about working out ways to re-open the pool.

But, as that scenario is as likely as a pig flying over Wycombe town hall, I will move on to my next entreaty to the members of Wycombe District Council: Please, please, whatever you do – take action now to save us from the latest set of parking charge hikes.

The proposed new charges, just released, are aimed at securing £140,000 extra for the council per year.

There are in total 55 individual increases at various locations, plus eight new fees. Car park prices will rise by up to 25 per cent, and the £1.50 rate after 6pm will be axed at the council’s two multi-storey car parks.

Sunday rates will go from £1 to £1.50 – reasonable it seems until you remember many towns are free on Sundays.

Some of you may not be bothered by the rise of, say, 30p on the £1.50 tariff for two hours at the Swan. And you may think that increases of 50p here and there won’t really make much difference.

I know that councillors will point out that car park fees have to increase from time to time and simply cannot stand still.

Yet traders are already apparently going ballistic, fearing this is going to drive people away from their towns. This follows the theme of my column last week when I said it was easier to shop on the internet nowadays as opposed to rummaging around for a parking space.

However, the rise I personally most object to is the one for on-street meter parking in areas such as Benjamin Road, Desborough Road and Baker Street, High Wycombe. Fees will rise from 10p every 12 minutes to 20p, under the plans.

I used to regularly park in one such road to drop my son off to a nearby school. Several other parents chose not to pay and dropped their kids off wherever they could – even if this meant double parking or stopping in the middle of traffic.

I thought this was wrong and always made a point of paying my 10p before walking round the corner and dropping off my child.

Now 10p extra isn’t very much, but it soon builds up if you are parking twice a day every day.

This council should be encouraging people to park lawfully, but this planned increase is just one more disincentive. It’s one more piece of encouragement to take a risk and snarl up the roads, pavements and other people’s drives.

And so what if they occasionally get a penalty ticket? If the parking fees are going to escalate like this, some drivers may think it worth risking a £25 fine now and again.

I don’t expect councillors to scrap every intended increase. But I hope they do see sense over this one.

I don’t envy them having to balance the books, but I urge them to take care over this huge issue.

We’ve already lost our pool – traders can’t afford to lose their businesses and livelihoods as well, and fed-up residents can’t afford any more inconsiderate illegal parking around their homes.