Parking Meter fiasco means Council risks losing record of listening to communities

12.00.00am GMT Mon 11th Feb 2008

Liberal Democrats want Labour bosses to listen to local people and drop their plans to put Parking Meters into Littleover Village

Liberal Democrats are warning Labour Council bosses that they risk losing the Council's reputation for listening to communities.

The warning comes as Littleover residents wait to hear Council bosses' response to a petition of more than 1600 people opposing parking meters in Littleover.

Littleover village was one of six areas where, last November, the Cabinet had agreed to start the formal process to introduce parking meters and residents' parking permits. Previously when similar schemes had been considered for other areas local people had been asked for their views and local councillors informed of the plans. This time it was confirmed at the meeting that there would be no pre-consultation.

Lib Dem Councillor Les Allen who has led the campaign against the parking meters said "The leader of the council has been emailing councillors to tell them that the Council has been commended for listening to local communities. Yet so far he has failed to listen to the people of Littleover who have said loud and clear that they don't want parking meters put into Littleover Village .

"Labour Council leaders failed even to tell Littleover's councillors of their plans to bring in parking meters. Nor did they inform Littleover's new Neighbourhood Forum. So much for their commitment to partnership working.

"The Labour leader of the Council must ensure his team involves at least the Neighbourhood Forums and local councillors in early discussions about such issues or he will lose the Council's reputation for listening to communities".