Letter to Brighton & Hove City Council – Preston Park parking scheme

Letter to Parking Strategy Manager Charles Field; Environment Initiatives Team; Councillors Juliet McCaffery, Amy Kennedy, Kevin Allen, Pat Drake, Ken & Ann Norman

I write regarding the current consultation over the introduction of a parking scheme in the Preston Park Station area.

I feel resident’s parking is a good idea, who wouldn’t want a virtual guarantee of a space in their street?  However charging for the privilege seems unreasonable.

As council tax payers (which has once again increased by 4.8%) to a Unitary authority, is it not the case that a percentage of that money should already be going to highways, transport, traffic, urban roads and on and off street parking?  Therefore covering such a scheme?

The majority of homes in the Preston Park area are small, yet many of the properties have two or even three vehicles.  If introduction of an annual fee is the eventual outcome of the consultation I believe they should foot the cost.

One free parking permit could be issued to each household and a fee charged for each additional vehicle.  This money would cover costs for the creation of such a scheme and also push those who don’t consider the environment to re-think their current set up.  After all wasn’t that the council’s long term plan, to force people onto local transport?