Sign of the times

THANKS Brian Stephens for your excellent piece on parking (Herald, March 26, "Even the chief exec doesn't understand this sign"), and notably the money made by the council as quoted by Graham Erskine and Ms Roberts, "At the last count, Worthing Borough Council was £840,000 in credit because of their creative parking scheme and well on their way to a million pounds".
By The Newsroom
Published 1st Apr 2009, 13:44 BST
Updated 8th Jun 2018, 00:49 BST

Indeed, the council had the benefit of a further 4million, spent on making the off-road car parks safe and pleasant to use, previously they were totally unsafe.

We believe the council should be putting some of this money back into the off-road car parks, lowering charges and investing in local businesses and supporting residents to survive the credit crunch.

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Keeping the council tax down to a bare minimum is all well and good, but we need to invest in people, in good services and businesses to survive in this climate.

After all, not everyone pays council tax, children for a start.

The Conservatives are looking at a Worthing parking strategy, which in essence, using their words, means "Getting people off the street and into the car parks".

You'll be able to read the report very soon.

Will it include a section on disability parking?

Very doubtful, as one of the experts at the recent parking panel meeting representing the council said: "Disabled people can park anywhere."

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They seem to forget that most high-sided vehicles which can take wheelchairs can't use the off-road car parks, and access to the beach means just that '“ not having to park on the other side of the road and navigate across with possibly children in tow.

Will it include a section on the views of businesses?

Again doubtful, but they have given out a questionnaire to small businesses, including the Scouts, about park and ride, even though they wanted to scrap the idea.

Will it consider the tourist, sorry not PC, visitor trade?

Well, maybe, at least they seem to have been considered by West Sussex County Council, the upheaval in Chapel Road '“ which is well intentioned '“ to make it easier for those on foot, should be over by the time the summer comes.

To s/he who cannot be named (Herald letters March 26, "Whose idea was this Chapel Road mess?") I'd say I empathise with your feelings, but if you want the Masterplan, agreed by many people, to improve Worthing, to make us able to survive the credit crunch, the street scene has to be improved, and this means change and temporary disruption.

To make a cake, as the saying goes, you have to break eggs.

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To answer his/her questions, the money from on street parking goes to the West Sussex County Council, the borough administers it for NCP as it used to be known.

Off-road money goes to Worthing Borough and the car park group maintaining the assets.

West Sussex County (Highways), and WBC are doing the Chapel Road scheme and are both Conservative-led administrations.

I trust I haven't sent you down a blind alley.

Hazel Thorpe

Cllr Tarring ward

Tarring High Street

Worthing

NOTE: All letters must include a name and address which can be withheld by request.

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Related topics:Worthing Borough CouncilWest Sussex County Council