Action Briefing Apr 2004-May 2004
	The Newsletter of Birmingham Friends of the Earth

West Midlands News

Parking in Telford

At the same time as they are planning to charge at public car parks, hypocritical Telford and Wrekin Council Chiefs are granting 52 free parking spaces to Council staff, making a mockery of their own Green Travel Plan which encourages employees to walk, cycle, use public transport and car share.

Campaigners have lodged an official objection attacking the Council's inconsistency and urging them to withdraw the planning application in order to avoid further embarrassment. Telford FoE have estimated the project could cost taxpayers as much as £1,000 a year for each parking space.

The Council hit back saying the project was part of a property purchase involving the nearby JobCentre Plus premises. They also claim the new spaces will prevent surplus cars blocking emergency vehicles. But if emergency access is being obstructed then it is the Council Health and Safety Officer's responsibility to enforce safe parking.

The Council subsequently granted itself planning permission and the issue is now with the Government Office for the West Midlands. Interestingly, one condition of planning permission was that a cycle shed be installed, which they had already provided in 1999. This probably sums up the ‘four wheels good, anything else bad’ attitude of many local authorities when it comes to spending money on transport.

Robert Saunders,
Telford Friends of the Earth,
Tel: 01952 253705
roberttcs@aol.com