What about all the emails against ‘roamer’ parking?

Published: 4 March, 2011

• COUNCILLOR Paul Smith, Islington’s executive member for the environment, seems to be creating ever more difficulties for himself. Two weeks ago in the Tribune, the Stop the Roamer campaign challenged him to justify his assertion that the residents’ roamer was overwhelmingly popular when the evidence provided by his own officers showed the opposite to be the case (‘Roamer’ parking will damage our quality of life, February 11).

Then last week, readers were treated to the unedifying spectacle of Cllr Smith – not for the first time – abusing those with whom he disagrees, suggesting that they have nothing better to do with their time (Roamer parking critics ‘people who have nothing better to do’, February 25). Personally attacking one’s opponents in this way is widely understood as being the last refuge of someone who has lost the argument.

But it gets worse. Regarding the most recent consultation, Cllr Smith was reported last week as saying that of 135 phone calls to the council, 101 were in favour of the scheme. While true, this statement is selective. Cllr Smith must know that of 173 emails also received by the council in response to the same consultation, only 19 were in support, with the rest opposed. 

Data on both phone calls and emails were contained in the same document. Misleading the public is one of the most serious mistakes a politician can make. 

It is hard to understand how, having shown such poor judgement, Cllr Smith continues to retain the confidence of his colleagues. The public will, meanwhile, have to treat with caution anything he says in future. As a recent political slogan put it, “We can’t go on like this.”

MEG HOWARTH
Ellington Street, N7

• I KNOW our democracy is supposed to be representative, but that does not mean politicians know everything about us. I was probably not alone therefore in feeling considerable disgust that Councillor Paul Smith apparently claims to know that I and many other opponents of the roamer parking scheme “have nothing better to do than complain...” 

If others who question the idea are anything like me, then we have plenty to do, but some of us have made time to comment on, or criticise, a highly contentious scheme. 

That is no more than our right, even if Cllr Smith seems to prefer it were not, judging by his extremely foolish words. I wonder if Cllr Smith would care to reconsider and apologise publicly in these pages?

RICHARD LEWIS
Oakley Road, N1