MP re-states his opposition to on-street parking plan
South Lakes MP Tim Farron has this afternoon re-stated his opposition to on-street car parking fees.
Cumbria County Council is planning to introduce the charges in several towns across the county, including Windermere and Bowness, Ambleside, Kendal, Barrow and Keswick. The charges have been opposed by many local businesses and politicians like Tim, who argue it will damage their sales and treat Cumbria's towns like 'honey pots'.
Tim recently wrote to Stewart Young asking to drop the plans and spoke at a public meeting in Windermere said that we would fight with local residents to try and get 'the council to see sense and drop this proposal'. This morning a demonstration was organised at the Marchesi Centre to allow residents to make their feelings known.
In recent days major changes to the plan were secured by local councillors Jo Stephenson and Heidi Halliday who will be asking the South Lakes local committee to remove all of Windermere village from the proposal and virtually all of Ambleside from the plans. Only the Glebe in Bowness and Wansfell Road and Lake Road in Ambleside remain in the plans. Tim has said today that 'he'd like those streets out too'.
Tim said: "I'd like to thank everyone who went to the protest today and made their voice heard! I totally oppose on-street parking charges - always have and always will. I think it hurts residents, communities and makes it harder for local businesses to thrive.
"The council, thanks to pressure from residents and local councillor Jo Stephenson, has removed all the streets in Windermere from the plan and that just leaves plans to charge parking fees on the Glebe in Bowness. Ideally I'd like that out too!
"In Ambleside, thanks to hard working Cllr Heidi Halliday, campaigning group Future Ambleside, Lakes Parish Council and local residents, all the streets bar two have been removed from the plans as well.
"I hope that by working together we can keep pushing this and the council will for continue to move in our direction! All our work behind the scenes has meant that the majority of the proposals for the South Lakes have been cancelled now and we should welcome that - but keep pressing for more!"