6:21pm Friday 16th July 2010
By Emily-Ann Elliott
A controversial parking scheme looks set to be rejected after widespread opposition from residents.
Three-quarters of the people who responded to proposals to introduce a residents' parking scheme in Hanover and Elm Grove in Brighton were against the plans.
Brighton and Hove City Council consulted residents earlier this year on the scheme, which would see residents and permit parking covering another large swathe of the city.
Around 3,000 valid responses were received, from one-in-three of the people living in the 128 streets affected.
Overall 75% of people were against the proposed changes to on-street parking while 25% were in favour.
Ward councillors will now have the chance to talk to the parking team and make suggestions before a final decision will be made by the council's cabinet member for the environment, Geoffrey Theobald, on September 16.
The meeting will consider a report with a road by road analysis of the consultation.
It will also cover reviews of the existing parking schemes in the St Luke's and Queens Park areas.
Coun Theobald said: “The headline results show there is no mandate for going ahead with a parking scheme in this area. I'd like to reassure residents of what I stated at the outset, that I will not go ahead with any parking scheme where residents clearly don't want one.
“The formal decision will be taken in September because I want to make sure that residents and their ward councillors who supported the consultation have the opportunity to consider and comment on the detail.”
Wilf Nicholls, spokesman for the Elm Grove Residents Action Group, said: “This is absolutely fantastic news.
“This is the perfect example of the community speaking for itself.”
Bill Randall, the Green Party convenor and a Hanover and Elm Grove councillor, said it had been right to test public opinion.
He said: “The parking problems will not go away and we believe the council and the community should look closely at the many good ideas put forward by local residents during the consultation period to deal with parking problems, to improve the environment for pedestrians and cyclists and to expand the car club.”
Gill Mitchell, leader of the Labour group on the council, said: “It is good that people in the Elm Grove and Craven Vale area have been given the opportunity to respond to this parking consultation.
“We would like to see the Conservatives in charge make a decision that reflects this.”
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