New bid made to keep Blyth Valley free parking
Action taken to reduce the impact of car parking charges on recession-hit town centres across England has been seized on by campaigners fighting to retain free parking in part of Northumberland.
Labour MPs Ronnie Campbell and Denis Murphy are battling to ensure a wide-ranging review of parking strategy by the county council does not result in the imposition of charges in towns such as Blyth, Cramlington, Ashington, Bedlington and Newbiggin.
Now Mr Campbell is holding up the actions of councils in other parts of the country as evidence that charging has a damaging effect on the local economy and traders.
He says in recent months, parking charges have been reduced - or measures taken to ease their impact on the town centre - in Southampton, Swindon, York, Mansfield, Colchester and Plymouth.
Mr Campbell, who has collected more than 7,000 signatures on a petition to retain free parking in south east Northumberland, says this shows it would be foolhardy to consider bringing in charges here.
Despite Northumberland now being one unitary authority, motorists can park for free in Blyth Valley and Wansbeck while having to pay as much as £1.10 an hour in towns like Berwick, Seahouses, Alnwick, Morpeth and Hexham.
Morpeth chamber of trade has launched its own campaign for a 'level playing field' on charging in the interests of fairness - which would effectively signal the end of free parking in the county.
Yesterday Mr Campbell said: "I have argued long and hard against any imposition of car parking charges in Blyth Valley, not just to have a kick at the opposition group at County hall but because I genuinely believe it will be a death knell for local traders.
"The fact other major towns and cities with retail centres are cutting the charges is evidence that charging does have an impact on local traders. With the Metro Centre just down the road, anyone who has access to a car, and even those who rely on public transport, can take their money elsewhere."
Mr Campbell believes the county council will consider phasing in charges by first introducing them in the car parks along Blyth Valley's popular Links.
Coun Andrew Tebbutt, Liberal Democrat executive member for corporate services, said there are no specific plans to introduce car parking charges in south east Northumberland, including Blyth Valley's Links.
"The review is ongoing and no decisions have been made. We have got a whole range of issues to look at, including permits, seasonal parking along the coastline and the very important matter of our proposals to take over control of on-street parking management," he added.
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I didn't hear Ronnie Campbell trying to stop his beloved Labour controlled Blyth Valley Borough Council from introducing car-parking charges a few years ago, when it was their intention to do so!
I think you'll find that you are wrong as Ronnie has always refused to support any kind of car park charging. Mr Brown, have you got some kind of vandetta against Mr Campbell? Do you actually even listen to what Blyth Valley wants? How often have you held surgeries? If a new MP ever came into Blyth Valley - then we, the people of Blyth Valley will never be able to have the luxury of a walk in surgery every week to see our MP. Have you ever done anything constructive for Blyth Valley? Your other comments about Eddie Milne having done a "better" job, did you forget to mention that when it was announced that they were closing the ship yards, Eddie went on holiday?
First of all, I will make it quite clear to Makaveli, who last week was Unknown, I do not have any kind of vendetta against Mr Campbell! I like Ronnie Campbell; he is to me the most trusted person in the Labour Party. It does not mean because I air my views on any press report, I am holding a vendetta against the person who was involved, I am simply airing my views to which I am entitled to do so, however, I am aware after 16 years as a councillor that Labour view this differently to me!
I didn’t say Ronnie had supported car parking charges, I said “I didn’t hear him complain when Blyth Valley Labour Party wanted to introduce car parking in Blyth Valley a few years ago” so get your facts right!
Yes, I do listen to what the people of Blyth Valley want, do you? Because the first thing they want is open and transparent democracy, so I publish my name to everything I write, in your case you have hidden behind 2 different fictitious names in one week!
Your comments about another MP coming to Blyth and not holding surgeries are simply a “Red Herring” and evidence that you intend to cause fear amongst the electorate or you are totally misguided, as you have no idea how any other MP would meet his constituents!
No I didn’t forget to mention Eddie Milne went on holiday when the shipyards were closing, as I wasn’t aware that he had, after all he was a Labour MP at the time! But I must state it must have been awfully embarrassing for Eddie as a Labour MP, when the Labour Government closed the shipyard and caused great hardship in the area Eddie Milne was representing!
This thread is about car parking charges and if "Maka" reads his true history on Eddie Milne it shows the Dan Smith/Poulson/Cunningham era as the disgrace it was for the people....followed by a man who went to jail. So lets not get carried away....the car parking consultation will report and we shall see what is, and what isn't proposed.
Tony, you don't need any report I could tell you now, It'll be car parking charges at 50p per hour!!
Mr Brown, Your comments about the ship yards closing by a Labour Government and yet again you failed to mention that most of teh workers had jobs lined up at Swan Hunters which later was closed by the tories. Mr Brown, you keep dwelling on the past, you shoudl be more like Mr Campbell and look to the future. I should also mention you have a very jelous attitude as Mr Campbell has been a big success and has been an MP since 1987 and yet not defeated, and he was also a Councillor since 1969 - 1987 which show massive success.
YES I AM A REAL RONNIE SUPPORTER - HE IS TRUE LABOUR AND DID NOT JOIN DIFFERENT PARTIES LIKE YOU!!
Makaveli, Your comments are typical of biased Labour, for 30 odd years Labour have complained that the closing of the shipyard led to devastation in the town of Blyth. Now because I have pointed out the shipyard closed under a Labour Government, you claim it didn't make any difference as most of the men had jobs lined up at Swan Hunters, then you the blame the Tories for closing that yard! So are you are saying you preferred the men to work at Swan Hunters? And you are not concerned about the loss of revenue to the town of Blyth or the problems caused to the former workers of Blyth Shipyard? No wonder you don't want me to mention the past, but I note Labour mention it often, when they blame the Tories for 18 years rule, but conveniently forget the "Winter of Discontent" under the last Labour Government!