On-street parking victory for Elmbridge and Reigate & Banstead

Residents and businesses in Elmbridge and Reigate & Banstead campaigning against the imposition of on-street parking charges by Surrey County Council won an important victory today when the County's Environment and Transport Select Committee unanimously supported a call-in by Liberal Democrat Transport Spokesperson, County Cllr Stephen Cooksey.

As a result of the decision, the County Council's Cabinet will now be asked to refer the plans for the two boroughs to their respective local committees, to decide the plans for their own areas.

Stephen Cooksey said: "The Conservative administration keeps saying it is listening to people and that it believes in localism, but the plans for Elmbridge and Reigate & Banstead were steamrollered through ahead of the rest of the County, despite massive opposition from many residents and businesses in the two boroughs. The local committees for the two boroughs had no opportunity to have their say, and the councillors' On-street Parking working group was not allowed to discuss these two boroughs or to take views from the relevant local committees."

"The Deputy Leader of the Council has already said that his own district, Tandridge, 'has been withdrawn from the public consultation on on-street parking charges'. If his district can make decisions like this, it is unfair if other parts of Surrey are not allowed the same opportunity."

"This decision will hopefully mean that residents' businesses in areas such as Claygate and Banstead, who rightly complain that they have been ignored in the process so far, will now get a fair hearing for their local areas."

The Deputy Leader of the Council indicated that he would support the U-turn when it comes back to the County Council's Cabinet next Tuesday.