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To: Herefordshire Councils Cabinet - Cllr Paul Rone councillor for Transport

Unfair car parking charge increase in Herefordshire

I would like the Herefordshire Councils Cabinet to review the recent decision to raise the charges for car parking across the county. And give valid feedback as to what the money that it raises will do whether this is to improve the carparks, road surfaces or a highway related issue? Use public transport more like you claim is behind this move, how can we when you have cut the number of services that are provided?

Why is this important?

Herefordshire Councils Cabinet signed off last December/November a raise in the car park charges which came into effect on the 1st of February. As a example Herefords Merton Meadow car park before the increase was £3 all day as of the 1st of Feb this went up to £5 this is a raise of 66%!! Whilst in leominster the car park in Broad street went from £1 to £2.50 which represents a 150% increase!!

Further information on car parking price changes can be found at https://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/media/3921502/car_park_notice_of_variation_of_charges_feb_2016.pdf

This is unfair because this now means that people that work in Hereford will now have to work for 3/4 of an hour just to park their car.

I also believe that with more and more chain stores moving in Hereford the increased car parking charges will impact on local residents, tourism and business people not coming at staying in Herefordshire. Many local small independent shops haven't got e commerce websites and therefore people can't buy their products/services online. This in turn is playing into the hands of major business and taking money away from local business.

The other day a work colleague was paying for parking in Herefords Merton Meadow car park. The lady in front of here was from Cardiff for the day she said "£5 for parking, thats the last time that I come to Hereford."

Their argument that this was done to try and get the public to use more public transport is floored when in their last budget they reduced the bus services that they subsidise therefore meaning that less services are now running. Also how many councillors do you see actively using and promoting public transport??

If you agree with any of the points that I raise please please sign my petition against Herefordshire Councils Cabinet and maybe Cllr Rone will take note and review the parking charges decision that has been made.

Thank you for your time.

Herefordshire

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2016-02-23 19:17:54 +0000

500 signatures reached

2016-02-16 10:59:23 +0000

100 signatures reached

2016-02-11 21:59:15 +0000

50 signatures reached

2016-02-11 08:48:11 +0000

25 signatures reached

2016-02-10 22:51:29 +0000

10 signatures reached