Islington roamer parking critics ‘people who have nothing better to do’

Published: 25th February, 2011
by TERRY MESSENGER

OPPONENTS of Islington’s roamer parking scheme should find more important things to do, the Town Hall’s environment chief has said.

Labour councillor Paul Smith claimed the convenience of the scheme outweighed en­vironmental concerns. 

He urged parking protesters to demonstrate against public spending cuts instead. Cllr Smith told fellow councillors: “There has been a small amount of people in the borough who have nothing better to do than to complain when they’ve got nothing literally to complain about.

“I would suggest that those people... should do something constructive like campaigning against the cuts. In three months time most people will turn around and say: ‘What the hell was that all about? I’ve got more important things in my life’.”

Cllr Smith was responding to a question from Lib Dem councillor Arthur Graves, who called for more consultation on the scheme at a full council meeting last week.

Twenty-five members of the public submitted questions raising concerns about the environmental effects of roamer parking, the impact on people with disabilities and the prospect of a “black market” in parking vouchers developing.

The Labour-run council brushed aside opposition from the Lib Dems and members of the public and endorsed the roamer scheme. 

It will allow resident permit holders to park in any resident parking bay between 11am and 3pm.

The scheme “means local drivers will be able to visit family, friends, shops and services like doctor’s surgeries and dentists more easily”, according to a council statement.

But opponents fear that it will lead to a free-for-all, with their parking spaces occupied by visitors.

The offer of unlimited visitor vouchers usable throughout the day has prompted fears of a “black market” serving commuters converging on Tube stations.

Islington Green Party has warned that the scheme will lead to an increase in car journeys and congestion, resulting in environmental damage.

Cllr Smith said that of 135 phone calls to the council, 101 were in favour. 

He added that once callers were fully informed about the scheme “they say: ‘Oh that’s rather good – I’m pleased about that’.”

He denied claims that the scheme would leave insufficient spaces designated for people with disabilities. As for fraudulent use of vouchers, he said: “If someone wants to buy huge amounts of vouchers we’ll ask why, and there will be no sale if we suspect fraud is being attempted.”

On the environmental issue, he maintained: “The convenience for people getting on with their lives is far more important than theoretical concerns about anything.”

Caroline Russell, of the Green Party, said: “Cllr Smith clearly has very little respect for the views of residents and is not interested in working collaboratively to make Islington a better borough.”

Cllr Graves claimed that of 400 people who emailed the council on the issue only eight were in favour.

The scheme begins on Monday, February 28.