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Parking anger hits boiling point!
MORE than 200 elderly residents barracked Bromsgrove's chief executive Kevin Dicks over the withdrawal of their concessionary car parking passes.
So many turned up to the AGM of the Older People's Forum last Thursday that organisers had to abandon the smaller room originally booked, and move into a bigger one at Bromsgrove Methodist Centre in Stratford Road .
The AGM was postponed, as well as Mr Dicks' original talk, and instead he was forced to field a torrent of complaints and verbal abuse.
Spokesman for the pensioners, Charles Bateman said: "I have never seen anything quite like it. There were a lot of very angry people expressing very strong feelings."
Remarks like: You are the worst council in England' were shouted.
Jeff Edwards, the treasurer for the Older People's Forum, said: "Feelings have been running high since the decision to withdraw the passes was first announced in January. We feel there should have been some consultation - there are other options."
| “I have never seen anything quite like it. There were a lot of very angry people expressing very strong feelings.” | | Spokesman for the pensioners, Charles Bateman |
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Some of the pensioners' alternative ideas included raising the age limit for passes from 60 to 65, raising the fee from £30 to £40 per annum and restricting the use to weekdays only.
"If they were restricted to weekdays we couldn't be accused of taking up spaces for people who can only shop at the weekends," added Mr Edwards.
David Pardoe, an Independent councillor for Sidemoor, said: "The problem is that the councillors who make these decisions don't live, work or shop in the town."
Chief executive, Kevin Dicks explained that the decision to withdraw the passes was politically made by councillors.
"Feelings were running high. The remarks disappointed me because we are working very hard as a council to improve. However, we will be reviewing the council's priorities and spending patterns in early summer so all these comments will be taken on board."
Forum members were planning to hold an emergency meeting yesterday (Tuesday) to call on the leader of the council and the councillor responsible for car parks to attend another public meeting.
However, Council leader, Roger Hollingworth (Con-Alvechurch) said: "I am not prepared to attend a public meeting. Nothing is gained by people jumping up and shouting, I am however happy to meet the Older People's Forum committee."
"I will only attend a meeting if it is properly conducted. I was very angry to hear how badly Mr Dicks was treated."
The 63-year-old Tory who represents Alvechurch added: "Age is discriminatory, I will not do anything now based on age. They should fit in with the rest of the population. They are no different to the 90,000 other people we represent."
Councillor Margaret Sherrey (Con-Furlongs), who is responsible for car parks, had originally planned to accompany Cllr Hollingsworth.
She said: "We have to decide on priorities - parking passes are discriminating against young people."
10:12am Wednesday 19th March 2008
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CommentPosted by: pagej, Stoke Heath on 11:08pm Mon 24 Mar 08
I have recently received my Council Tax invoice together with the 'Your Services' brochure. In it Mr Hollingworth states that 'Listening to you - is our priority',What a Joke!! I always believed that the local council were representative of the people, however, reading many recent reports & comments by this leader this is hardly the case!
How dare Hollingworth & his collegues waste around £20K of my money on hotel rooms for cosy meetings & then at these meetings decide that they can no longer support pensioners with reduced parking costs! I believe that the short sited attitude of the council will reduce the car park monies & further reduce the town centre shop takings as I, like many others, will not now visit the town as frequently as I do now. Since moving to Bromsgrove I have found it a pleasurable experience to visit the centre 2 or 3 times on weekdays. However, I have no need to shop in town, as living in Stoke Heath, Morrisons is convenient for most items I require & they do not charge for parking. I deal with my finances online & anything I cant get locally I can buy online. In fact the only need to visit town is to have my hair cut or my eyes tested. I have estimated that I will save around £18 on what I currently pay for a pass! And that's if I bother to take my car into town, as I will no doubt be taking advantage of the new Bus Concession from April 1st.
Furthermore, not only does this council only collect household waste on a fortnightly basis but on top of the exorbitant council tax costs, it also expects it's customers to pay an annual rate in order to collect our green waste - shame on them!!
I have recently received my Council Tax invoice together with the 'Your Services' brochure. In it Mr Hollingworth states that 'Listening to you - is our priority',What a Joke!! I always believed that the local council were representative of the people, however, reading many recent reports & comments by this leader this is hardly the case!
How dare Hollingworth & his collegues waste around £20K of my money on hotel rooms for cosy meetings & then at these meetings decide that they can no longer support pensioners with reduced parking costs! I believe that the short sited attitude of the council will reduce the car park monies & further reduce the town centre shop takings as I, like many others, will not now visit the town as frequently as I do now. Since moving to Bromsgrove I have found it a pleasurable experience to visit the centre 2 or 3 times on weekdays. However, I have no need to shop in town, as living in Stoke Heath, Morrisons is convenient for most items I require & they do not charge for parking. I deal with my finances online & anything I cant get locally I can buy online. In fact the only need to visit town is to have my hair cut or my eyes tested. I have estimated that I will save around £18 on what I currently pay for a pass! And that's if I bother to take my car into town, as I will no doubt be taking advantage of the new Bus Concession from April 1st.
Furthermore, not only does this council only collect household waste on a fortnightly basis but on top of the exorbitant council tax costs, it also expects it's customers to pay an annual rate in order to collect our green waste - shame on them!!
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