Agenda item

To receive any public questions.

David Royle, on behalf of the Sustainable Sawbridgeworth community group to ask Councillor Graham McAndrew, the Executive Member for Environmental Sustainability

“Sawbridgeworth Town Council produced its own Local Cycling and Walking Implementation Plan (LCWIP) in August 2018, over four years ago. It has not yet been implemented.

We note that in North Hertfordshire there has just been a consultation on the proposed walking and cycling improvements in Hitchin, Letchworth Garden City, Baldock, Royston and Knebworth, as part of their Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans.

Can we please ask how the East Herts LCWIP work is progressing, has it actually started, what stage is it at, when and how can local groups feed into it and when is it due for completion?”

Response from Councillor Graham McAndrew:

“An LCWIP to cover the district is being jointly prepared in partnership with Hertfordshire County Council (HCC), the lead authority on this project.  While East Herts Council is ready to commence work on the LCWIP at the earliest opportunity, a change in HCC staff has meant that this Council has been awaiting confirmation on the timeline for the next steps to progress this work. 

HCC has recently advised that a new member of staff is due to start shortly and also that a Project Manager has been identified at the consultancy who will be supporting the project, so it is therefore expected that initial work will commence in coming weeks.

Public consultation is a key element of LCWIPs and this will certainly occur as part of the East Herts project, the expected timeline for which will be finalised when the full programme is confirmed in due course.”

There was no supplementary question.

James Dean to ask Councillor Graham McAndrew, the Executive Member for Environmental Sustainability

“What are the council intending to do to mitigate the impact of the new parking proposal on residents who have no option but to park in public car parks?

The only parking we have near our house is a public car park, Crown Terrace in Bishop’s Stortford.  My partner works Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, leaving before 8.30am and returning around 6.30pm, parking overnight, and then paying for Fridays. The introduction of the new proposals will mean we have to pay for half a day (£3.60 - the car park opposite our house only does half and full day during the week) just to cover the additional 6.30pm to 8.30pm charging period, for an additional 5 days a week. Plus also £1.50 for Sundays. That means an additional £78 a month on top of what we already pay for parking to cover various eventualities here and there. We understand the need for the council to raise more money, and your proposals as stated are targeting commuters and shoppers who have at least one alternative option (bus, cycling, walking etc). But we have no other options. We have a 2 year old son as well, so can't just park miles away.”

Response from Councillor Graham McAndrew

“I understand and appreciate that a small number of residents make use of the council’s car parks overnight due to limited parking options on street. The council has decided to make better use of its car parks by ensuring that the user pay for the service. It is therefore important that we seek to balance the needs of car park customers, and also local residents, against the council’s responsibility to ensure a fair return on its investment that delivers value for money for the taxpayer. When evening car park charges are introduced, there are options that we can consider including implementing a permit type arrangement with eligible residents who have no on street parking options available to them.

I note that Crown Terrace itself is controlled by a single yellow line waiting restriction that stops at 6.30pm. Residents may therefore legitimately park on-street from 6.30pm until 8.30am in the morning, should they wish to.”

Supplementary question from James Dean

“We would like to put forward the idea of residents having a permit that allows them to not to have to pay for the additional charge time of 6.30pm to 8.30pm on weekdays. It's not us asking to not pay at all. Just to not have to pay for that additional charge time which would cause increased financial and logistical pressure.”

Response from Councillor Graham McAndrew

“Officers will investigate this option and will be in contact.”