RICHMOND Council has defended a consultation into controlled parking zones, in which 59% of residents rejected tougher parking rules around Twickenham Green.
More than 2,000 homes in the area received the questionnaire earlier this year and over 700 responded. Of these just 13% agreed with proposals to charge for residents' parking permits.
Tory transport spokesman Clare Head said: "The response was enormous. Well over 700 took the trouble to reply – far more than usual. Of these a massive 59 per cent rejected a CPZ.
"Once again residents have made it clear that they do not want a CPZ. Why should they? Why should they pay huge sums of money every year for a scheme that does not address their problems of parking at night and does not even guarantee a parking place? CPZs decrease the amount of parking and so make the problem worse. It's a no brainer.
"Residents have been vocal in their anger that once again the council is spending their money to try and push through a scheme that very few want."
But cabinet member for traffic, transport and parking David Trigg said the council had not yet made a decision about any changes to parking regulations in the area.
"We instigated this survey in response to a petition which was presented to the council," he said. "What we have done is to ensure that we have the views of everyone in the area and their responses will determine what is or is not put in place.
"We will only put a CPZ in place if the majority want it. Some do and some don’t – what we have done, contrary to these ridiculous claims, is to reduce or hold charges for up to 60% of car users.
"The object of the exercise is to listen to people to ensure that we make the best use of parking provision in the differing areas of the boroughs to everyone’s benefit.’
