The Vale Council cabinet last night voted down proposals from a united opposition to scrap plans for parking charges in Barry and Cowbridge after winning a tight vote (22 to 23) to continue with plans for the introduction of charges.
Vale MP Alun Cairns has said that cabinet members are sticking two fingers up to local residents and traders, and the refusal to listen to the valid concerns raises concerns over any consultation that will now take place. Cabinet members have so far refused to take into account the weight of public opinion and traders are continuing to campaign against the plans.
Mr Cairns said: “The Vale Council cabinet are continuing to show complete disregard for the concerns of residents and traders. The campaign will continue unabated – the council cabinet members cannot ignore hundreds of businesses and thousands of residents indefinitely just for political convenience, eventually they will have to listen and do the right thing.
“The mixed messages coming from each cabinet member simply demonstrates the fundamental weakness of the policy. The Council clearly know that residents and traders are on the right side of the argument.
“To stick two fingers up to the community just for the sake of 0.1% of their annual spending demonstrates just how out of touch they have become.”
Vale assembly candidate Ross England said: “I welcome the cross party-support that our campaign against Labour’s car-parking charges is attracting. Councillors from all parties made a plea for the Council to listen to the community and scrap their plans to introduce charges.
“Unfortunately, the concerns of local people were rebuffed with unbelievable arrogance, casting doubt on the credibility of the coming consultation on parking charges.
“Cllr Burnett, the Council cabinet member responsible for regeneration, demonstrated the Council’s arrogant disregard for the views of local traders when she said that she would only talk to local businesses ‘when they understand’ the issues around parking.”
“I am confident that they will eventually buckle under the huge pressure being brought to bear by local public opinion. We are pressing to make that happen sooner rather than later.”