Conservative Councillor Allan Andrews (Con, Earlsdon Ward) has welcomed news that the City Council has decided not to introduce car parking charges at the City’s premier park following the high profile campaign he ran against them.
The proposal to implement car park charges at the War Memorial Park was unveiled earlier this year by the Labour Group as part of their plans for the City Council’s Budget. Earlsdon Ward Councillor Allan Andrews immediately launched a campaign against the proposals and slammed them as an insult given the parks role in commemorating those who lost their lives fighting for the freedoms we now enjoy.
In response to Allan’s campaign the Council’s Labour leadership first ruled out introducing charges at the Kenilworth Road car park. Yet they were still determined to press ahead with charges in the Leamington Road Car Park.
Whilst it was argued that the charges were aimed at discouraging commuters from using the car park, fears grew in Earlsdon and Cheylesmore that the move would add to parking problems in local roads, as commuters try to avoid the charges prompting hundreds of residents to sign the petition organised by Allan opposing Labour’s plan. After months of concern for residents caused by this proposal the Council has now confirmed that no charges will be introduced in War Memorial Park.
Commenting on the u-turn, Allan said: “This is a welcome change of heart by the Council. I have always had very serious concerns about the proposals and have not shied away from being highly critical of them. The excuses given for introducing these charges did not stand up to scrutiny and I am glad they have now been abandoned.”
Whilst welcoming the u-turn Cllr Allan Andrews believes that it should have happened much earlier. He added: “The Labour Party’s initial response to my campaign was to claim that I was slamming proposals that did not exist. Yet the facts, and this u-turn, clearly show they were planning to introduce them. Instead of trying to dodge responsibility and score party political points, the Council’s leadership should have listened to the concerns being raised at an earlier stage. If they had done so they would have saved themselves a lot of embarrassment and more importantly local residents a lot of anxiety.”