We should vote on parking

It is highly desirable to have a plan to keep roads open for traffic for all of Chichester.

However the proposed parking plan is not that, it is a way of pushing through, using the usual predetermined ‘consultation’ the use of parking permits given on a whim by a local government employee, sanctioning the unacceptable and making the public space which is our streets an unpleasant place to be.

There will be constant friction between residents about parking in ‘my space’ which parking permits sanctify when the road is primarily for moving along and parking is the exception while visiting a nearby premises.

The intended damage can most clearly be envisage in East Broyle where the proposal to fully sanction unrestricted 24/7/365 parking in the narrower side streets, where the road is just wide enough for two vehicles to pass, on payment of a very nominal sum for a parking permit is appalling.

East Broyle was built with each dwelling having a drive and a garage, which in most cases was drive through, giving room for a car in the garage and one on the drive, and another either by parking at the rear of the garage or doubling the width of the drive, which still leaves a good front garden.

There is no need for 24/7/365 parking on the roads and banning it for two different hours in the working day without permits is the way forward.

Laybys were built in the road network for exceptional numbers of visitors and they could be restricted, Chichester wide, for that purpose with a reasonable limit of a number of consecutive days.

As to the ‘consultation’ it is on a far reaching plan which is intended to have a significant impact and yet the timetable is rushed to beat the local elections.

It is also qualified as ‘informal’ just like the Referendum on the EU and we all know how well that is going. A full vote of all residents should replace this predetermined managed ‘informal consultation’ after the local elections during which all candidates should clearly state their preferred plan for the area they are standing for as a further aid to democracy. MIKE WHITE Exeter Road Chichester