Local News 
Parking Proposals in Hertsmere - The Labour Group's view [July 4th 2005]
In view of the fractious comments by some councillors, we thought it would helpful if we, once again, put forward the view of the Labour Group in Hertsmere on this issue.
The facts are that there is little or no enforcement of current parking restrictions across the borough of Hertsmere. There is a lack of car parking spaces in some areas, mainly caused by all day commuters parking in the wrong places, and the current parking infrastructure needs to be maintained. The real problems lie with the balance of enforcement of existing parking restrictions, and at the same time encouraging people to use the local shops and facilities.
Way back in 2002 Leon Reefe, the Leader of the Labour Group, was involved in the Review of Transportation and Parking throughout Hertsmere. At this time this Review discussed what was required to deal with the issues of parking within the Borough.
It was obvious to us at this time that we needed a scheme that addressed these problems but also encouraged people to use the local shops and facilities.
Several reports and consultations were commissioned by the council from which it was clear that a Borough Wide solution was necessary. These reports told us that a co-ordinated solution was best suited to tackle the parking issues in Hertsmere.
The current system of free parking outside the shops in Potters Bar would work well if there was a decent level of enforcement. This echoes the situation in areas of Borehamwood and Radlett.
The problem in Bushey is that they are provided with parking facilities and traffic wardens, which they don't pay for. Everyone else in the borough is subsidising the parking facilities in Bushey.
Your Labour Councillors have never proposed a "one size fits all" policy. We have proposed a strategy that addresses the actual problems identified, a strategy that best suits the needs of the local community whilst avoiding persecution of those whose only means of transport is the car. We understand that there will be local issues in the different areas across the borough, but this in no way detracts from the main principle of a borough wide scheme.
What we need is some sort of consistency over free parking time around our beleaguered shopping areas. We need more and better parking facilities for those people who must use their car to travel into, or through, the borough. We need more effective enforcement against badly or dangerously parked vehicles. What we need is for Councillor Pitfield and the rest of the Tory councillors to start doing their job.
The councillors on the Labour side have always seen this issue as an opportunity to provide a service to the community. There are enormous benefits to be gained from implementing a well thought out policy.
Time and again the Tory councillors have failed to grasp the importance of this issue. Deadline after deadline has passed with no coherent plan in place. The Tory councillors see this as yet another burden that they'd rather see just go away.
The parking strategy proposed by Councillor Pitfield and the rest of the Tory group is a fanciful, politically motivated, unjust mess. Why Cllr Pitfield and the rest of the Tory group fail to understand this issue, or provide a halfway decent solution, is anyone's guess.
At some point the Borough council will have to take over the enforcement of parking restrictions throughout the streets of Hertsmere. What we must ensure is that this doesn't become a gluttonous money generation scheme, but remains a service that the council provides to the people of Hertsmere.
We call on all residents in Hertsmere to voice their apposition to these new parking proposals and support our rational plan for parking provision and control within the borough.
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