Council told that ruling will not allow parking rules to be painted on road

AN invitation to visit Westminster "to talk parking" came from local MP Mel Stride in response to Crediton Town Council saying it "would not give up lightly" trying to "sort out the mess" of High Street car parking.

The town council question was: "Please can you help us sort of the mess of our dual use loading/parking bays, which constantly entrap residents and visitors and then stop them coming to the town.

"With the Government's aim to create a climate that empowers local people and communities, building a 'big society' that will take power away from politicians and give it to people, the present situation is unsatisfactory."

Mr Stride replied that he had been looking in to this over a number of months, following letters from the town council.

He had taken this up with the Secretary of State for Transport and the Transport Minister with the response being that Government "cannot change the rules for one place".

Also, signs could not be painted on the road because when it snowed the words would be covered up or get dirty and get covered over. "I do not think more pushing will get a different answer," he commented.

However, Cllr Liz Brookes-Hocking could not believe Crediton was the only market town in the country with this difficulty.

"We have been years trying to get some satisfaction and we will not give up lightly," she said.. "We would like any advice you can give us. We just need some help."

When it was said that double yellow lines were among information painted on the road, Mr Stride said this was because something was needed to make it clear exactly where parking began and ended.

Cllr Nick Way, also a county and district councillor, said Devon County Council had been engaged in this problem and the town's traders really wanted a solution, preferably information written on the road.

Council chairman Cllr Frank Letch said it had been suggested to him that the loading bays were outlined with a different colour.

Mr Stride wondered if the town council had looked at what was done in other countries? Was the solution to have solely parking or loading? Perhaps the traffic warden (the district council enforcement officers) could be more flexible?

Mr Stride added that, in Parliament, "You learn a lot of things get changed by banging on and on." Perhaps a town councillor might like to go to Westminster to "sit down" with the Transport Minister?

Cllr Brookes-Hocking did not need to think about that, the answer was "Yes" and said she would check what happened in other towns. Mr Stride also said he would be happy to ask a question during Transport questions in the House of Commons.

Still on transport, Cllr Richard Adams asked if Mr Stride would support the re-opening of the railway line through to Tavistock for Plymouth? This would use the railway line through Crediton.

Mr Stride replied that he would. The Government was aware that the current situation could not continue, with part of the country being cut off when the rail line went down. It was a great opportunity.

It would be "hugely beneficial" for Okehampton. He was working to do what he could to make sure there was the best possible chance.

CREDITON HOSPITAL

Asked for his views on the future of Crediton Hospital, Mr Stride replied that there were "huge changes" going on in the NHS.

Government needed to look closely at how services were delivered to be sure the best possible use was made of funds. It could be that, in certain circumstances, smaller hospitals were less effective for a variety of reasons.

PLANNING

Asked how could local decisions be made effective, especially planning, when they could be over-ruled by other agencies. Mr Stride replied that there would "always be tension about what happened at an Appeal and what the local community wanted".

The town council question cited an application for land at Fordton to be developed for industrial use being recommended for refusal by the town council and refused by Mid Devon District Council and yet allowed on Appeal, making a nonsense of the Local Development Framework (LDF) and potentially the Neighbourhood Plan.

Mr Stride stressed that it was important to have a robust LDF, hoping that people would get involved in the current consultation into the Local Plan. He was told the frustration from this particular situation still remains with both the town and district councils.

FOOTPATH ACCESS

Mr Stride was also asked if he would help the town council in lobbying for the Wellparks estate, where new homes are planned, to have good pedestrian access to the rest of the town because, at the moment, there were no crossing points on Exeter Road?

He said this was clearly a local matter and it was interesting that there was the presumption that MPs could reach in from on high (to help). This was a situation where it could be helpful for the MP to back it publicly.

EUROPE VAT DOWN - UK UP!

"Conservative party policy is to increase VAT yet in five EU countries, they have lowered VAT to five per cent on food sales in restaurants, cafes, pubs and hospitality businesses, where meals are served.

"This has resulted in thousands of jobs being created often for the young or people with low skills and it also offers them a viable career opportunity.

"Since Crediton has many coffee shops, why has this VAT reduction not been pursued?" was another question.

Mr Stride said he had sympathy with getting VAT down and had spoken in the House about this, because tourism was hugely important for Devon.

Asked his views on development on flood plains, Mr Stride replied he was generally negative.

Asked about current farming practices, which increase rain water run off, Mr Stride said that new thinking was needed about provision for flooding.

He knew DEFRA and the National Trust had various projects, there was also a lot of theoretical evidence with quite a lot of work needing to be done.

Asked whether he would "support the increase in licence fees for late night establishments to cover the cost of extra policing", Mr Stride felt this was something that might be more applicable to larger towns and cities than a quiet village.

Asked what was being done to "ensure the wider recycling of all plastics in Crediton", Mr Stride said that Sustainable Crediton had regular plastics collections at Lords Meadow Industrial Estate and plastics could be taken to the recycling centre at Punchbowl near Coleford, both of which he urged people to use.

Asked what was being done "to ensure a co-ordinated strategy for wind turbines and solar farms", Mr Stride said we had obligations as a country to meet renewable targets of 15 per cent of total energy generated by 2020.

DEFENCE

Asked if he was happy about what his Government had done about the defence of the country, Mr Stride replied that in terms of global power, the UK had the fourth largest defence budget of any country.

He said the whole nature of the Armed Forces was changing and we probably had to accept that conventional engagement such as in Iran or Iraq, we would not be able to engage as we had in the past.

Thanking the town council for inviting him, Mr Stride said he had 125 parish and town council in his area. Three members of the public attended, one being Cllr Martin Binks, one of the four district councillors for Crediton.

Mr Stride had been given prior notice of the 11 questions from the town council, with the hospital and defence queries coming from the public.