FEATURE ELECTION SPECIAL
Viewpoint: Liberal Democrats
Greener, cleaner and no more clamping
Enough is enough, says the Lib Dem party as it puts the banning of clamping by private firms at the heart of its policy on parking.
Norman Baker,
the Liberal Democrat
spokesman for transport, said: ‘Our position is very simple: clamping should only be done by public authorities, and there must be right of appeal. ‘Sadly, our enthusiasm was not matched by the other main parties. When we recently pushed our proposals to a vote, Labour and Tories unanimously refused to support them.’
travel network
parking charges: ‘We must also bear in mind that people do break parking rules, and there should be appropriately-charged sanctions. However I want the parking industry generally to see motorists as customers, not problems that must be dealt with.’ Recognising the ever-present issue of
a sustainable transport network, Khan is determined to continue to promote the development of other modes of travel to ease the congestion on the streets of Britain. He is optimistic about the investment planned
in the advent of another Labour term in office. He quotes instances of innovative local projects such as the York and Oxford park-and-ride schemes, and the government investment into improved national rail and bus links. ‘It is great news that Nissan is investing £420m towards the manufacture of the first commercially successful electric car at the Nissan plant in Sunderland, and the government has announced that it is also investing £20m in the project. Trough our investment the public will be able to make smart travel choices, taking into account cost, convenience and green issues.
www.britishparking.co.uk
I want the parking
industry generally to see
motorists as customers, not problems that must be dealt with
Baker is also wary of the zealousness shown by the public sector when it comes to upholding parking laws. ‘Of course the law should be upheld, but motorists should not feel they are being used as a cash cow by desperate councils taking advantage of petty infractions.’ ‘The Lib Dem party has two key goals for transport: to improve the travelling experience for everyone, and to reduce carbon emissions from transport. To do that we need to invest in our transport system to create one we can be proud of,’ he said. Within its parking policy, the Lib Dems support the current Labour government’s scheme to install charging points, and develop the general infrastructure for electric cars. Focusing on both carbon emissions and efficiency of travel, increasing the parking facilities at railway station is one practical measure the Lib Dems would put in place to ease rush hour traffic congestion. And the role of technology cannot be underestimated in the battle to create a greener and more efficient transport system, according to Baker. ‘Technology increasingly allows drivers to have more information about how many spaces are available in certain car parks. The earlier a driver is made aware that a car park is full, the less time they will waste driving around trying to find a space. This will not only reduce carbon emissions, but also make parking a less frustrating experience for drivers.’
APRIL 2010
23
© iSTOCK
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