Paid parking has not gone away

PAID parking is still a fundamental part of the integrated traffic strategy. Traffic Committee members have met for the first time since the States rejected proposals for charges of up to 40p per hour in Town. The House also threw out 30p and 20p amendments. Committee president Pat Mellor said yesterday that charging was vital for the success of the strategy. 'We still have the integrated policy in front of us; it was just the actual rate that was turned down. Everything else is still there. 'It is an integrated strategy and it cannot work if bits are taken off.' She said that paid parking was not just about an income, but about encouraging people to think about alternatives to using their car. Other initiatives within the strategy have started to move forward. Improvements to the scheduled bus service will be evident from the beginning of next year. Residents' parking schemes are on stream for next month but extending the free schools bus service is on hold because it is not agreed from where the funding will come. 'When we did a public consultation, 60% were in favour of paid parking,' she said. 'I accept it was fairly close, but it is a job for the government to show leadership, which they did in March for the benefit of the whole community, and is what they still need to do.'