Hi all,
Some urgent information to bring to your attention following last night’s first meeting of the residents group Kimberley Against Car Parking Charges (KAPC).

I met with the Director of Finance on Monday this week to get the latest position on what is happening on the proposed car parking charges for Kimberley.

This is a very short summary of some of current proposals that I relayed back to KAPC last night:

  1. One of the recommendations now being looked at is to charge only for Victoria Street car park. Station Road and Newdigate Street are deemed not viable economically. There are still question marks over James Street with various options still being considered.
  2. Proposals would be that there would be no charges for the first hour, £1 for first 2 hours, £1.50 for 3 hours and £3 all day with various season ticket options.
  3. The charges if agreed would be put in place from Monday to Saturday 8am until 6pm, with no exemptions for example for charities.
  4. Should the Cabinet meeting of Broxtowe Borough Council approve car parking charges for Kimberley – a Car Parking Order is introduced and a 20 week consultation period would then ensure, where individuals would have the opportunity to make representations against whatever is proposed (should be noted though that individual residents during this time are not consulted automatically – it’s up to each individual to send their complaint/objection in).
  5. The earliest then that after this 20 week period that Car Parking Charges would be introduced in Kimberley is January 2010.
  6. There was a unanimous view last night from KAPC that the idea of charging for ANY car park in Kimberley should be opposed – not only on economic grounds, but just because of the sheer additional congestion that would inevitably be caused in and around Newdigate Street and Victoria Street, the detrimental affect of businesses etc. KAPC also are unanimous in their view that the whole idea and consultation process so far regarding parking charges in Kimberley is very weak.
  7. The situation with Sainsbury’s is that they have approached the County Council to be able to charge after a first 2 hour free period. As of Monday this week the County Council do not appear to have given permission yet.

What to do now?

So we now need your help – this is where you come in!

  1. We need a many e mails/letters of protest as possible to go into the Cllrs who are on the Cabinet that will make the decision in respect of parking charges for Kimberley on Tuesday 28 July. Full details are shown below. Send your protests directly to the Cllrs listed below (and not me). Please aim to get your e mails/letters in by Thursday 23th July.
  2. If you want to turn up and protest on the night of the Council Cabinet meeting – you are welcome to do so and also attend the meeting (you would not be allowed to participate though). More information about the protests are available from Cllr Mel Crow who is co-ordinating things on behalf of the Town Council – mel.crow@broxtowe.gov.uk.

By sending a strong and united voice now – we can influence a key part of how our community develops over the coming months, and hopefully stop this unwanted and unnecessary extra charge hitting Kimberley residents and businesses.

Thank you for your support. Any questions please get in touch.

Best regards,
Richard

Richard Robinson
Labour Borough Cllr for Kimberley & Cossall
7 Scargill Avenue,
Newthorpe,
Nottingham,
NG16 2DZ

Tel: 01773 531315 (h) – 0775 1970 640 (m)
E-mail: richard.robinson@broxtowe.gov.uk

Cabinet meeting when decision on car parking charges will be made is Tuesday 28th July, commencing at 6pm. This is open to members of the public. Address of the council is shown below.

E-mails or letters of objections to the proposed car parking charges for Kimberley should be sent before 28th July to the following Councillors (and members of the Cabinet).

Cllr M G Rich – michael.rich@broxtowe.gov.uk

Cllr M Brown – mick.brown@broxtowe.gov.uk

Cllr S Heptinstall MBE – stan.heptinstall@broxtowe.gov.uk

Cllr R I Jackson – richard.jackson@broxtowe.gov.uk

Cllr J M Owen – jillowen@broxtowe.gov.uk

Cllr F Prince – frank.prince@broxtowe.gov.uk

Cllr M Radulovic MBE – milan.radulovic@broxtowe.gov.uk

Cllr K Rigby – ken.rigby@broxtowe.gov.uk

Suggested notes, key tips for e mails/letters:

  • Ensure they are polite.
  • Urge the Cllrs to vote against a “blanket” car parking charge across the borough.
  • Do not make them overly long winded (make your points as concise as possible).
  • Emphasise the key point that the economic case for car parking charges in Kimberley is flawed.
  • Clearly point out that what may work for Beeston or other areas cannot be simply duplicated somewhere else – outline unique nature of Kimberley case – and even if Kimberley is exempt from parking charges, this does not set a precedent for all of the other areas in the borough.
  • Bring out the points about the poor consultation so far and the “loaded” questions originally asked.
  • Highlight the particular problems you have if you are a resident of Newdigate Street, Victoria Street, Regent Street or James Street, or own a business on any of these streets.
  • Bring out any points of raised at tonight’s meeting of KAPC.

You can also e-mail the Director of Finance Malcolm Staley on malcolm.staley@broxtowe.gov.uk and the Chief Executive Ruth Hyde, ruth.hyde@broxtowe.gov.uk – outlining your objections and points (they have no voting power – but do advise the Cllrs).

If you do not have access to e mail, all letters can be addressed to the individual Cllrs, Chief Executive and Director of Finance and posted to Broxtowe Borough Council, Town Hall, Foster Avenue, Beeston, NG9 1AB.

Alternatively to save postage – if you drop your letters through the doors of Nottingham West Outreach Church, Richard Robinson will hand them in at the Council Offices before 28th July.

For details of protests being organised by Kimberley Town Council, contact Cllr Mel Crow, 0115 945 8577, e-mail mel.crow@broxtowe.org.uk – postal address 27 Cliff Boulevard, Kimberley, Nottingham, NG16 2JJ.

Cllr Richard Robinson – Kimberley Against Parking Charges (KAPC) – Wednesday 15th July.