County Council turns its back on Parking Problems
Surrey County Council has once again delayed any further progress on modified parking restrictions in Epsom and Ewell, even though some much-needed changes were originally requested 5 years ago.
Work is yet to be completed on the current "Phase 6" schemes, which were called for by residents and councillors in 2009 and 2010. Public consultation was held in 2011 and formal approval was given by SCC's Epsom & Ewell Local Committee in January 2012. At that time, completion was promised for March 2012, but it is now doubtful if the work will be finished by Christmas.
Phase 6 includes the borough's first new residents' permit bays since the 1990s. Once all the new lines and signs have been finished, Epsom & Ewell Borough Council will have to arrange to issue permits to residents. As a result, discussion of Phase 7 has now been postponed until March 2013, making it unlikely to be implemented before March 2014.
Shop keepers in Waterloo Road are particularly badly affected. Modifications to the existing restrictions in Waterloo Road and adjacent roads such as Horsley Close and Hazon Way were agreed in principle by councillors following a petition in 2007, but due to a series of procedural issues have only been partly implemented. The main changes needed are now in Phase 7.
"It's all taking far too long and the process is unwieldy" says Cllr Julie Morris, member of the Local Committee. "We have chronic obstructive parking problems in some places and it beggar's belief that the process for getting a simple yellow line can take up to two years."
Sick leave on the part of county officers and a contentious scheme in Ladbroke Road have been given as reasons for the current postponement.
"It's a question of lack of resources, human and financial, but that's cold comfort to those who suffer with obstructive parking every day. Around 70% of our council tax goes to the County Council. Whilst it continues to hold vast reserves, we get poor service and our priorities are ignored" adds Cllr Morris.