Labour confirm misleading Coulsdon on parking
03/02/2016 10:35:00......Posted by Mario Creatura
On Monday I asked Cllr Bee (pictured), Labour's Councillor in charge of parking and transport in Croydon, about her broken pledge to keep district centre parking free for the first hour. Here is my question and her reply: 'CQ010-16 from Councillor Mario Creatura 'To support our local economies, our district centres will offer free parking for the first hour. This will not only make shopping easier for residents but will also support our local traders in difficult times.' These words can be found on page 15 of your 'Ambitious for Croydon' manifesto. You have announced that you will be breaking this manifesto promise and reducing the free parking on Brighton Road in Coulsdon from 1 hour to 30 mins. Why have you done this?' Reply from Cllr Kathy Bee 'We have now had time to review the impact of this commitment and now know that this wouldn’t offer the best use of our parking bays. We have aligned Coulsdon with the rest of the borough to ensure fairness and consistency by offering 30 minutes free parking. This will encourage turnover of parking bays which is more beneficial to the local businesses.' It's Cllr Bee's first line, 'we have now had time to review the impact of this commitment', that really sticks in the craw. Cllr Bee and her Labour colleagues committed very clearly in their election manifesto to protect free parking for an hour in district centres. You can read that clear pledge here. When Cllr Bee uses the word 'review' she is attempting to explain away her obviously reneging on that clear election pledge. Trust in local and national politicians is low at the best of times, we are rightly expected to honour our words before elections with actions afterwards. Many may have voted for Labour based on their manifesto pledges. To use the word 'review' is an attempt at political sleight of hand, designed to explain away a complete disregard for the commonsense of the electorate, and the promises made before being awarded power. No wonder the public has so little trust in our elected representatives.
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