Consultation mistake angers parking critics (From Echo)

Consultation mistake angers parking critics

4:00pm Monday 6th July 2009 in

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A MISUNDERSTOOD phone call has led residents to claim they are being misled in their fight to get parking restrictions in a Canvey road.

At the latest Canvey East neighbourhood meeting, it was said 320 consultation letters had been sent out to residents about the issue, when the real number was just ten.

The argument surrounds plans to put double yellow lines along a short section of Point Road, Canvey.

Campaigners claim parked cars on the stretch of road are forcing drivers into the middle of the street near a busy roundabout with Wall Road.

Alf Partridge, chairman of Castle Point Council’s highways panel, told the packed meeting the restrictions would not be put in place as consultation letters sent to 320 residents showed significant objections.

However, resident David Mitchell pointed out he had recieved an e-mail from the county council’s highways manager, Andy Hilsden, stating only ten consultation letters were sent out.

The letter – seen by the Echo – reveals seven of the ten residents objected to the restrictions because they feared they would be left with nowhere to park.

Mr Mitchell, 69, of Bommel Road, Canvey, said: “They’ve lied about the number of consultation letters so they can ignore us. They need to ask people in all the nearby streets.

“It is a really busy bit of road and someone is going to get killed unless cars are stopped from parking indiscriminately.”

Mr Partridge has apologised for the confusion.

He said: “I thought Andy had told me 320 letters had been sent, but he now says he didn’t.

“I wrote it down on a piece of paper and I could easily have made a mistake.

“I have known Andy for many years and I have no reason not to trust him. The most important thing now is we get the problem sorted as it is a serious issue.”

New proposals for the road are being drawn up and will be announced at the next neighbourhood meeting in September.