SOUTHAMPTON'S Labour council leader has publicly stated her administration has no plans for new charges for residents to park outside their homes.
However June Bridle again refused to scrap a controversial parking policy agreed last month to charge for all permits without guarantee of a space.
The policy provoked outrage among residents and led to the Daily Echo's campaign for a U-turn.
Cllr Bridle told the Echo the latest dispute was splitting hairs.
In a statement read to the council chamber Cllr Bridle said: "Let us be clear that no decision has been made on when and if the strategy, or any individual aspect of it, will be implemented.
"The policy sets out a broad approach that is essential to accommodate future development such IKEA and West Quay 3.
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She added: "The part of the policy that has attracted the most attention has undoubtedly centred around the details on how residents parking could be managed, but I confirm that there are no plans for any new parking charges and that the overall policy for residents parking in Southampton remains the same.
"In parking zones, residents will still have the same conditions and enjoy the same benefit that are operating presently including free first permits and up to 60 free visit permits per year."
Cllr Bridle added any new zones would only be brought in after consultation.
She had previously ruled out any new charges for at least 12 months.
Her statement comes just days after one Cabinet member claimed the Tories had tricked the joint Labour and LibDem Cabinet into agreeing the parking policy.
The policy, which contains a list of detailed policy statements, also says the residents' parking schemes should be "self-funding".
Council transport chiefs have said they need to raise an extra £342,000 to make it pay for itself.
The Conservatives had been due to consider the parking policy but they were ousted from office in a budget row.
Councillor Matt Stevens, Cabinet member for children's services, wrote in an Internet blog: "The whole parking issue is a set up and the new Cabinet walked into it".
He added: "The fact the Conservatives made no comment on the final report or recommendations should have alerted the new Cabinet."
Cllr Stevens said the approved policy report was "accepted for further development" and that "no policy was set" or "made".
Tory transport spokesman Councillor Gavin Dick said: "He's admitting they didn't read the policy. It quite clearly states that residents will have to pay for parking permits.
"They really should read these documents and know what they are voting on. It is a question of judgement. Are they passing things without knowing what they are doing?"
The Tories have made an election pledged that they will not charge for a first permit in existing residents parking zones.
Posted by: ECHO REPORTERS ARE STUPID, SOTON on 12:55pm Wed 16 Apr 08
Headline - for now. In spite of what has been said and written by the council on this issue. I think we should wait until Echo reporters can read, write, and understand.
p.s. Don't hold your breath!
Headline - for now. In spite of what has been said and written by the council on this issue. I think we should wait until Echo reporters can read, write, and understand.
Posted by: Gladstone, Southampton on 1:05pm Wed 16 Apr 08
What was Gavin Dick's response when he was in charge and asked (by a Labour scrutiny committee chair) whether he would implement this recommendation? Was it "no comment"? Why didn't he just say "no"?
And why does Gavin Dick always get the last word in Echo articles?
What was Gavin Dick's response when he was in charge and asked (by a Labour scrutiny committee chair) whether he would implement this recommendation? Was it "no comment"? Why didn't he just say "no"?
And why does Gavin Dick always get the last word in Echo articles?
[quote][bold]ECHO REPORTERS ARE STUPID[/bold] wrote:
Headline - for now. In spite of what has been said and written by the council on this issue. I think we should wait until Echo reporters can read, write, and understand. p.s. Don't hold your breath![/quote] Well seeing as Bridle refuses to scrap the policy that allows the council to do it if they wish, the headline looks right to me.
So, which councillor are you?
ECHO REPORTERS ARE STUPID wrote:
Headline - for now. In spite of what has been said and written by the council on this issue. I think we should wait until Echo reporters can read, write, and understand. p.s. Don't hold your breath!
Well seeing as Bridle refuses to scrap the policy that allows the council to do it if they wish, the headline looks right to me.
Posted by: Lee White, Southampton on 1:22pm Wed 16 Apr 08
[italic][bold]Time for Radical Change at the CIVIC CENTRE?[/bold][/italic]
I think it's high time Southampton as a population reviews who and what are making decisions about traffic, parking and planning in Southampton. In my view our current providers are weak and not catering to our needs.
The city remains outdated, stupidly anti-car, backwards in public transport and seeming bereft of any idea within local government on how to address it! I had a conversation about parking recently with the parking office and received a lecture on how our model is based on one from Brighton? Other than being a coastal city we're nothing like Brighton in Southampton... the model when explained to me is USELESS AND STUPID!
This parking scheme is typical of their idiotic ramblings and should be rejected and it's envisager immediatley dismissed in my opinion.
I think we ALL need to be vigilant about who we vote in at the Council elections, maybe forget party politics for a change and vote in people who will make a difference!
I'm certainly going to interogate any Councillor who canvasses for votes from me.
I believe new councillors should begin with a personnel review in the council's traffic, parking and planning offices; evolution of these services doen't work [bold]WE NEED A RADICAL RETHINK AND SOME NEW TALENT IN THAT CIVIC CENTRE![/bold]
Time for Radical Change at the CIVIC CENTRE?
I think it's high time Southampton as a population reviews who and what are making decisions about traffic, parking and planning in Southampton. In my view our current providers are weak and not catering to our needs.
The city remains outdated, stupidly anti-car, backwards in public transport and seeming bereft of any idea within local government on how to address it! I had a conversation about parking recently with the parking office and received a lecture on how our model is based on one from Brighton? Other than being a coastal city we're nothing like Brighton in Southampton... the model when explained to me is USELESS AND STUPID!
This parking scheme is typical of their idiotic ramblings and should be rejected and it's envisager immediatley dismissed in my opinion.
I think we ALL need to be vigilant about who we vote in at the Council elections, maybe forget party politics for a change and vote in people who will make a difference!
I'm certainly going to interogate any Councillor who canvasses for votes from me.
I believe new councillors should begin with a personnel review in the council's traffic, parking and planning offices; evolution of these services doen't work WE NEED A RADICAL RETHINK AND SOME NEW TALENT IN THAT CIVIC CENTRE!
[quote][bold]Adrian Smith[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]ECHO REPORTERS ARE STUPID[/bold] wrote: Headline - for now. In spite of what has been said and written by the council on this issue. I think we should wait until Echo reporters can read, write, and understand. p.s. Don't hold your breath![/quote] Well seeing as Bridle refuses to scrap the policy that allows the council to do it if they wish, the headline looks right to me. So, which councillor are you? [/quote] i think Gladstone is Cllr Stevens
Adrian Smith wrote:
ECHO REPORTERS ARE STUPID wrote: Headline - for now. In spite of what has been said and written by the council on this issue. I think we should wait until Echo reporters can read, write, and understand. p.s. Don't hold your breath!
Well seeing as Bridle refuses to scrap the policy that allows the council to do it if they wish, the headline looks right to me. So, which councillor are you?
Posted by: Rich Green, Bitterne Park on 1:29pm Wed 16 Apr 08
What have the Tories ever done to tackle congestion in this city, other than Alec Samuels telling motorists to plan for longer journey times? Labour has extended the free bus pass scheme and invested in a new port rail link to take a million lorries off our roads every year. Gavin Dick did nothing when he was in power other than try to cut bus services. All talk with nothing to back it up.
What have the Tories ever done to tackle congestion in this city, other than Alec Samuels telling motorists to plan for longer journey times? Labour has extended the free bus pass scheme and invested in a new port rail link to take a million lorries off our roads every year. Gavin Dick did nothing when he was in power other than try to cut bus services. All talk with nothing to back it up.
The Last line in the Echo report says:-
[italic]The Tories have made an election pledged that they will not charge for a first permit in existing residents parking zones.[/italic]
So for all new residential parking zones the option is left open to charge for the first permit.
What's the betting that they are thinking of making [bold]small[/bold] changes to existing parking zones. Which will mean scrapping the old ones and then creating [bold]new[/bold] but only slightly different ones, where because they are [bold]new[/bold] the first permit will be charged for. Don't be fooled into voting Tory to keep your free parking permits.
The Last line in the Echo report says:-
The Tories have made an election pledged that they will not charge for a first permit in existing residents parking zones.
So for all new residential parking zones the option is left open to charge for the first permit.
What's the betting that they are thinking of making small changes to existing parking zones. Which will mean scrapping the old ones and then creating new but only slightly different ones, where because they are new the first permit will be charged for. Don't be fooled into voting Tory to keep your free parking permits.
The Conservatives proposed extending the bus pass scheme to all disabled persons and pensioners.
The Labour government didn't put up the funding.
Still, why let the facts get in the way of Labour spin?
The Conservatives proposed extending the bus pass scheme to all disabled persons and pensioners.
The Labour government didn't put up the funding.
Still, why let the facts get in the way of Labour spin?
[quote][bold]hulla[/bold] wrote:
Wait until after elections. [/quote] Fully agree!
These are the sounds of a party/councillor who is willing to lie through their back teeth to win votes, then afterwards, Wham! Along come the parking charges.
Voters beware, our councillors contain more excrement than a ceptic tank.
hulla wrote:
Wait until after elections.
Fully agree!
These are the sounds of a party/councillor who is willing to lie through their back teeth to win votes, then afterwards, Wham! Along come the parking charges.
Voters beware, our councillors contain more excrement than a ceptic tank.
Posted by: saint h, southampton on 2:54pm Wed 16 Apr 08
I wander if this has anything to do with the local elections coming up. Bridle is in a ward with a small majority. Let's do the city a favour and vote her out.
I wander if this has anything to do with the local elections coming up. Bridle is in a ward with a small majority. Let's do the city a favour and vote her out.
Posted by: Gladstone, Southampton on 3:48pm Wed 16 Apr 08
[quote][bold]Gladstone Hunter[/bold] wrote:
Gladstone has no crediblity it is Matt Stevens. It's time the Echo stopped this.[/quote] Oh no, I'm not him. My spelling's much better.
But, instead of attacking me (I'm not a councillor and have no power), why aren't you and the Echo asking Councillor Dick what he planned to do before he was sensibly removed from power?
Gladstone Hunter wrote:
Gladstone has no crediblity it is Matt Stevens. It's time the Echo stopped this.
Oh no, I'm not him. My spelling's much better.
But, instead of attacking me (I'm not a councillor and have no power), why aren't you and the Echo asking Councillor Dick what he planned to do before he was sensibly removed from power?
Posted by: Rich Green, Bitterne Park on 3:52pm Wed 16 Apr 08
[quote][bold]Captain Birdseye[/bold] wrote:
The Conservatives proposed extending the bus pass scheme to all disabled persons and pensioners.
The Labour government didn't put up the funding.
Still, why let the facts get in the way of Labour spin?[/quote] What utter rubbish. FACT: the extensions you refer to were in the Labour budget, not the Conservative budget. FACT: the government increased transport funding for Southampton by 28%. Talk about spin- trying to claim credit for something your party actively opposed is the absolute height of hypocrisy!
Oh and as we're doing this- Captain Birdseye... Gavin Dick perhaps?
Captain Birdseye wrote:
The Conservatives proposed extending the bus pass scheme to all disabled persons and pensioners.
The Labour government didn't put up the funding.
Still, why let the facts get in the way of Labour spin?
What utter rubbish. FACT: the extensions you refer to were in the Labour budget, not the Conservative budget. FACT: the government increased transport funding for Southampton by 28%. Talk about spin- trying to claim credit for something your party actively opposed is the absolute height of hypocrisy!
Oh and as we're doing this- Captain Birdseye... Gavin Dick perhaps?
Posted by: Tony Lehrle-Fry, Southampton on 4:08pm Wed 16 Apr 08
I think what has happened here is that the Echo has got it wrong but can't quite bring itself to admit it.
The report was produced under a Conservative administration. It covered the whole parking strategy for Southampton and only a small part covered residents parking areas. It suggested that these should be paid for by those who are entitled to use them and that one way of doing this would be to charge for the first permit (which is currently free).
The report (as a whole) was accepted but, as has been explained time and time again, none of its recommendations have become council policy and will not be without further consultation and debate.
Now June Bridle has made what can only be described as as unequivocal statement that there are no plans to bring in such a charge. The Echo chooses to add "for now" but you could do that for almost anything - "Pope to remain a Catholic - for now".
And I think it's somewhat disingenuous of the Tories to claim that they weren't considering introducing this charge when they were in office. After all, they have consistently opposed all increases in parking charges for years until they were in charge and introduced an increase well above the rate of inflation.
I think what has happened here is that the Echo has got it wrong but can't quite bring itself to admit it.
The report was produced under a Conservative administration. It covered the whole parking strategy for Southampton and only a small part covered residents parking areas. It suggested that these should be paid for by those who are entitled to use them and that one way of doing this would be to charge for the first permit (which is currently free).
The report (as a whole) was accepted but, as has been explained time and time again, none of its recommendations have become council policy and will not be without further consultation and debate.
Now June Bridle has made what can only be described as as unequivocal statement that there are no plans to bring in such a charge. The Echo chooses to add "for now" but you could do that for almost anything - "Pope to remain a Catholic - for now".
And I think it's somewhat disingenuous of the Tories to claim that they weren't considering introducing this charge when they were in office. After all, they have consistently opposed all increases in parking charges for years until they were in charge and introduced an increase well above the rate of inflation.
[quote][bold]Tony Lehrle-Fry[/bold] wrote:
I think what has happened here is that the Echo has got it wrong but can\'t quite bring itself to admit it. The report was produced under a Conservative administration. It covered the whole parking strategy for Southampton and only a small part covered residents parking areas. It suggested that these should be paid for by those who are entitled to use them and that one way of doing this would be to charge for the first permit (which is currently free). The report (as a whole) was accepted but, as has been explained time and time again, none of its recommendations have become council policy and will not be without further consultation and debate. Now June Bridle has made what can only be described as as unequivocal statement that there are no plans to bring in such a charge. The Echo chooses to add \"for now\" but you could do that for almost anything - \"Pope to remain a Catholic - for now\". And I think it\'s somewhat disingenuous of the Tories to claim that they weren\'t considering introducing this charge when they were in office. After all, they have consistently opposed all increases in parking charges for years until they were in charge and introduced an increase well above the rate of inflation.[/quote] they intoduced an increase of .25% the remaining 5.75% was agreed in teh previous budget. which you could agrue they agreed too as tehy abstained on the Lib dem budget which had the increase.
the issue of trying to blame the tories is odd the report was not approved by the tories but by lab and libs. yes they commissioned the report but they did not agree it
Tony Lehrle-Fry wrote:
I think what has happened here is that the Echo has got it wrong but can\'t quite bring itself to admit it. The report was produced under a Conservative administration. It covered the whole parking strategy for Southampton and only a small part covered residents parking areas. It suggested that these should be paid for by those who are entitled to use them and that one way of doing this would be to charge for the first permit (which is currently free). The report (as a whole) was accepted but, as has been explained time and time again, none of its recommendations have become council policy and will not be without further consultation and debate. Now June Bridle has made what can only be described as as unequivocal statement that there are no plans to bring in such a charge. The Echo chooses to add \"for now\" but you could do that for almost anything - \"Pope to remain a Catholic - for now\". And I think it\'s somewhat disingenuous of the Tories to claim that they weren\'t considering introducing this charge when they were in office. After all, they have consistently opposed all increases in parking charges for years until they were in charge and introduced an increase well above the rate of inflation.
they intoduced an increase of .25% the remaining 5.75% was agreed in teh previous budget. which you could agrue they agreed too as tehy abstained on the Lib dem budget which had the increase.
the issue of trying to blame the tories is odd the report was not approved by the tories but by lab and libs. yes they commissioned the report but they did not agree it
June Bridle treats us all with contempt, i was at all the 'traveller' protest meetings and no matter what your opinion she should of been there as leader of her party but could not be bothered.
this lady is poison and a professional politician who has manipulated a high income at our expense.
she beleives she can do as she pleases and us suckers will just take it on the chin or chins. roll on polling day!
June Bridle treats us all with contempt, i was at all the 'traveller' protest meetings and no matter what your opinion she should of been there as leader of her party but could not be bothered.
this lady is poison and a professional politician who has manipulated a high income at our expense.
she beleives she can do as she pleases and us suckers will just take it on the chin or chins. roll on polling day!
Posted by: u know who, southampton on 8:02pm Wed 16 Apr 08
[quote][bold]Dan Gleeballs[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]King Mush[/bold] wrote: Is Bridle afraid of Dick?[/quote] i believe any Dick would be afraid of Bridle.[/quote] does she speak with her mouth full ?
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