Councillor TaylorYou obviously either have no idea what has been going on round here for a long time, exacerbated since the said ward councillor assumed supreme power over everything that happens (or doesn't happen if that suits her) following our other Conservative ward councillor's taking a year out to enjoy the trappings of mayoralty; or alternatively you areb fuly aware of the situation but are on-side with your egtregious colleagues in not wanting matters remedied and the Council to change its ways and start doing its job properly. The woman made her attitude quite clear both at the first ward Forum meeting last year, and subsequently at a Planning Committee meeting when the Council's own planning application for further expansion of Grange School was up for determination. That attitude is, essentially, that (a) she couldn't care less about the increasing problems residents in this street have in parking near their homes due to school parents, station commuters and Heathrow travellers, and (b) she has no concern at the clear conflict of interest arising from her position as an active governor of Grange school, which is the source of the worst parking, traffic and related environmental problems we neighbouring residents suffer.You can trumpet a Council 'code of practice' as much as you like; that's just window-dressing and will make not the slightest difference in practice. The only 'enforcement' staff we ever see here at school traffic time now are (infrequently) the camera van operators, who as I said in the posting which you are trying to get suppressed, are unshakeably convinced that school parents have the absolute right to park for at least TEN minutes not five, and not just in residents' parking bays but anywhere else even if they are causing the most blatant obstruction to other road users including residents.The plain fact is that under this Council administration as under then last, the Council continues to charge residents here the full council tax and (if carowners) the full resident permit parking fee, but does NOT provide ANY effective enforcement against KNOWN AND LONGSTANDING problem of the TWICE DAILY (at least) outrageous obstruction we suffer here (our cars completely blocked in , and sometimes the whole road blocked) at the hands of school parents. For the Council to take our money for a service but not to provide that service is FRAUD and CORRUPTION and I make no apology for using those well-justified terms.I would have more respect for you and your colleagues if your reaction had been to enquire what the problems are and to undertake to ensure that they are swiftly remedied and kept so. I have no respect at all for politicians whose reaction to well-founded public criticism and complaint is to try to get those criticisms and complaints suppressed and to sweep the matter under the carpet.At least before the despicable abolition of the Area Committees such matters could be put before a wider range of councillors, at least some of not most were likely to be honorably supportive. The replacement Ward Forum system means (and was probably intended such) that if (as in our case) punters are lumbered with one or two hostile, turncoat or otherwise dysfunctional ward councillors they can do what they like in the knowledge that their behaviour is not apparent to other councillors, or the wider population.And if you want an example of 'nasty and unpleasant' (among other characteristics) comment the other way, how about this parting shot from one of our longstanding ward councillors, in response to well-founded complaint about the Council having reneged on its previous commitment to remedying our parking problems here, and his personally having let us down on more than one occasion by failing to keep his promise to keep us informed in advance about key Council decision making events:-"It appears that you are not satisfied with any of your local Councillors - perhaps in the run up to the local election might like to consider whether you might wish to stand."THAT is what that individual, and this odious administration, will be remembered for here - plus of course your own attitude as revealed in your posting.Should this Council maladministration belatedly (and improbably) mend its ways, address our concerns properly and provide the effecive services we pay for and should be entitled to expect, I will be willing to re-consider my comments. Otherwise I fully stand by them.
Chris Veasey ● 6205d