Update: New Road Access only signs

Back in May, I reported that the consultation for New Roads proposed Access Only restriction was finally happening, after many months of uncertainty. Last night a report came to the Traffic Management and Advisory Panel (TMAP) and Officers recommended that:

"In view of the objection by TVP, who are responsible for enforcement action it is not recommended that the prohibition is implemented. However, due to the support expressed by residents during the statutory consultation period and during previous meetings it is recommended that the prohibition is introduced on an experimental basis for 12 months and further feedback sought from the residents and TVP."

Last night the Panel agreed that the Access only signs would be approved to be installed (on a 12 month bases initially). 

This despite the Police objection and complaints from Labour members that this was "a waste of money" and "unenforceable" - they went on to say that many options have been offered to these residents and they have all been turned down. I would say that useful has been offered until today. These Labour members of the panel then voted against the proposal... but it doesn't mater because they were a minority.

This is very much how Labour have operated for the last few years, they are out of touch with local people and unsympathetic to their needs. Residents on New Road are very aware that the restriction will not be enforced by the police, but want something that they can point at when the road is used as overflow parking by Hospital or University staff; Or when mothers emptying shopping from the centre of the road (because there are no parking spaces) are shouted at by drivers, using the road as a rat-run. 

Labour had neglected this problem for many years, all the way back to when they had three councillors in Redlands. It's this lack of understanding of peoples problems which has led to them being relegated to opposition on the Council.

UPDATE: This scheme will now go to the 12 July 2010 Meeting of Cabinet to be ratified. From then it should only take a few weeks for the schemes to be implemented.