2,200 names on parking petition

A petition of 2,200 signatures opposing carparking charges in Southwell was yesterday presented to New- ark and Sherwood District Council.

Southwell town councillors were in the Market Square on Saturday inviting people to register their objections to the charges the district council plans to introduce at the town’s Church Street and King Street carparks.

The chairman of the town council, Mrs Beryl Prentice, said the petition was also placed in shops in the town.

Residents are also being urged to write with their views to the district council’s portfolio holder for carparks, Mr David Payne.

“People were very supportive and we had them queueing up to sign the petition,” said Mrs Prentice.

“It will send a message to the district council but whether they will take notice of it, I don’t know.

“There is a strength of feeling in the town, certainly about the Church Street carpark, which people see as having been donated to the town, and they feel a bit betrayed.”

Mrs Prentice said people who attended Saturday’s St George’s Day parade in Southwell would have parked for more than two hours and so would have been affected by the charges.

Under the district proposals people will be able to park free for the first two hours but will pay £1.50 for the next two hours and £1 per hour after that.

The charges will be introduced from May 12 when civil parking enforcement begins but residents had until today to object — the day after the district council cabinet was due to discuss the matter.

An emergency meeting of the district council cabinet will be held on Tuesday to discuss any objections received after yesterday.

The town council is angry that the charges will also apply to Sundays and that residents will not be given permits.

The council is considering a legal challenge based on their claim that there was no mention of Sunday charging in the cabinet report or meeting of February 28, when the charges were discussed.