CLLR Angie Gaywood, Labour’s Thurrock Council’s Cabinet member for parking enforcement, has reacted angrily to allegations she has been dragging her feet over a resident parking scheme in South Ockendon.
She says: “Thurrock Council agreed that resident parking permit schemes would be introduced on the Flowers Estate at February’s council meeting where the budget was discussed, having already agreed that the first two permits should be free.
“When I say the council agreed, I should say Labour members voted for, because nobody else – including Conservative councillors Barry Johnson and Lynn Carr supported our proposals.
“While it is always disappointing when decisions taken in February still aren’t in place come November you have to remember that our attempts to bring this about earlier have been foiled by some who claimed the permits may be free now, but charge next year. Frankly, we could have moved more quickly had Ockendon Conservatives supported the scheme rather than obstruct it.
“This is nothing but lies. I promise, hand on heart, that while I’m the cabinet member and while this Labour administration is in control of Thurrock Council we will not charge for the first two car permits and not for the first visitor permit book either.
“Of course I can’t say what will happen ten years down the line or even if there is a different party in control of the council next year, but this Labour administration will not charge.”
And there we have it! I was at the public meetings earlier in the year when Cllr Gaywood and other Council members said, repeatedly, that nothing had been decided on the parking scheme, it was a matter for the residents to decide on. In fact, as Cllr Gaywood now confirms, it was already a done deal regardless of what the residents wanted. The residents at the meeting very much suspected this was the case but the high and mighty Councillors made sure that no debate could be had, they threatened to shut down the meeting more than once because people were getting angry that they could not speak.
This issue has been a stitch up from start to finish and I see that Cllr Gaywood has reverted to the ‘Vote Labour for free parking’ line that so incensed people last time she tried it. Will residents have to pay for parking? You bet they will, as soon as they force the rest of the estate to accept the scheme.
Didn’t Cllr Kieley vote against the labour Budget proposals?
Chickenfeed got their first – Yes, young firebrand Aaron did show up for a change and brought the entire meeting to a halt by voting against everything.
Cllr Gaywood probably needs reminding that he is a Labour Councillor – although he has been suspended for over a year while under “investigation” he is yet to be formally booted out of the party.
I think the Ockendon Councillors (well, the ones who actually work for the ward) have done well to get such a clear and unequivocal promise from Cllr Gaywood that the passes won’t be charged for. Quite why she couldn’t have promised that when that concern was first raised 4/5 months ago will have to be an unanswered question.
Of course, conspiracy theorists might point out that thanks to the delay, the new permits will conveniently be coming in shortly before an election where Labour will once again be scrabbling around trying to hold on to control.
Isn’t it wonderful when you can secure an electoral advantage at the expense of the residents AND blame it on the Tories? She must be bricking it given the extent to which the Labour vote has collapsed in her ward. Enjoy your last 6 months, Councillor, if the Tories don’t get you the Kippers will!
Chickenfeed got there first – Yes, young firebrand Aaron did show up for a change and brought the entire meeting to a halt by voting against everything.
Cllr Gaywood probably needs reminding that he is a Labour Councillor – although he has been suspended for over a year while under “investigation” he is yet to be formally booted out of the party.
I think the Ockendon Councillors (well, the ones who actually work for the ward) have done well to get such a clear and unequivocal promise from Cllr Gaywood that the passes won’t be charged for. Quite why she couldn’t have promised that when that concern was first raised 4/5 months ago will have to be an unanswered question.
Of course, conspiracy theorists might point out that thanks to the delay, the new permits will conveniently be coming in shortly before an election where Labour will once again be scrabbling around trying to hold on to control.
Isn’t it wonderful when you can secure an electoral advantage at the expense of the residents AND blame it on the Tories? She must be bricking it given the extent to which the Labour vote has collapsed in her ward. Enjoy your last 6 months, Councillor, if the Tories don’t get you the Kippers will!
Dear Editor
As one of the two working Councilors in Ockendon I would like to make comment regarding Cllr Gaywoods outburst of “this is nothing but lies”, as I guess it is intended for us.
She has stated that had the Conservatives voted for the Labour budget, in February things would have speeded up!
The fact that the conservatives abstained made absolutely no difference to the timing of the promised free parking zone, as the budget was passed on that self same February 2013 night, even after Cllr Kiely making a mockery of the vote.
I would also like to point out to the portfolio holder that the promise was made back in April 2012 with her party’s election leaflets stating quite clearly that if they won the election they would make the Flowers Estate a free parking zone for residents, why may I ask has she added an extra layer to her promise of “free if Labour in control” with “whilst I am the portfolio holder”
I must also remind Clr Gaywood that their original notice of intention to implement, only mentioned Grays and Stanford, completely omitting Ockendon, and it was the Ockendon Conservative Councilors who reminded her of the promise, so I hardly think we were ever “obstructing it”.
In conclusion if a promise made in April 2012 not implemented until an election is on the horizon is not a classic case of feet dragging then I don’t know what is?
This should never have been political it is about people’s needs.
Cllr Barry Johnson
Ockendon
Remind me what the Conservatives did to resolve the issue in their 6 years in power? They sat on their hands and effectively did nothing as they wanted to charge residents for permits and the residents didn’t want to pay. Last I heard the Conservatives were looking at private companies to advertise on ticket machines or on the back or parking tickets to reduce the cost of Ockendon residents parking permits – nowhere did they ever consider free residents parking permits.
Will the Conservatives make a clear pledge that if they regained control they would not charge residents for their parking permits?
Ed, you’re missing the point, this isn’t about what the Tories did or didn’t do. If they abstained from the vote and the budget was passed anyway then the hold up is bugger all to do with them. What this is really about is Cllr Gaywood lying to the residents at the public meeting. She said that nothing had been decided when, in fact, it had. It was already a done deal by the time she appeared before the public.
We are now expected to believe anything she says? I don’t think so. And as for that nonsense about the parking remaining free whilst she is in charge, doesn’t she realise that the Council could vote to impose fees at any time and there would be nothing she could do about it. In fact, I look forward to her resignation when it happens.
The council could easily remove the ludicrous traffic islands along Tamarisk road and reinstate the many parking spaces that used to be available, that would alleviate many of the current problems. They could also put in parking meters and charge a decent fee for commuters to park so that the fees would pay for residents free parking many times over in the course of a year. But, it’s not about the residents is it? It’s all about the money.
Does Cllr Barry Johnson lie?
http://www.yourthurrock.com/2009/05/28/bnp-pact-minutes-fake/
If Cllr Johnson was Pinocchio how big would his nose be?
Ed, Whaqt does it matter to this story of Cllr Johnson has told porkies?He isn’t in charge of anything and wasn’t the one lying to the public at the residents’ meeting. You surely can’t defend a lying Labour Cllr by bringing up a lie told by a Tory Cllr? That really helps, doesn’t it.
grays64 – I can’t even be bothered to argue with you regarding how local authorities make decision. Cllr Gaywood has told no lies. If it makes you happy to believe she did then off you go then and believe it.
Ed, were you at the public meeting when she discussed the residents parking? I was, along with many others and we all heard her say repeatedly that nothing had been decided on the parking scheme. That was a lie. She said that the majority of residents wanted the scheme. That was a lie. She was ready to roll out the scheme but was stopped dead in her tracks by angry residents who were able to convince the Council to run a proper consultation scheme before anything was enacted. Them’s the facts Ed, whether you like them, or not.
grays64 – nothing will ever make you happy. What would your solution be? Or are you happy just to sit and whinge about commuter parking?
Ed, you clearly have an interest in this parking scheme going ahead, would you like to enlighten me? Or is it that you are a friend of Cllr Gaywood? This isn’t about me being happy or otherwise, I was pointing out the dishonesty of this particular Cllr on an issue that matters to me. I have, elsewhere on these pages, said what I would do about the parking so you can’t accuse me of having a moan for moanings sake. Unlike yourself, who have yet to declare what your interest is exactly. Just so you know, I do not believe the resident’s parking will be free for very long, you only need to read Cllr Kent’s recent Posts about having to make ‘savings’ (Council speak for charging people more for stuff) to know that fees would be introduced quite soon after the scheme was up and running on the whole estate.