Who ever said that Council meetings were boring has obviously never been to a Boldon Cleadon and Whitburn Community Area Forum. Last night’s meeting at Boldon Community Centre was interesting to say the least. Most visitors to this site will know the problems faced by the community of East Boldon, that of the issue of parking congestion. Residents considered the get together last night as the last chance to persuade the Council to create control measures before the years end. So what was achieved? Despite another massive public turn out (80+) nothing was really done. The Council once again fell back on its plans to place a pedestrian refuge in the vicinity of the shops to enable safe crossing of the road. Whilst this is not unwelcome, it is in the wrong place (people will have to cross other roads to get to it) and it will remove three parking bays in an area blighted by the lack of parking spaces. There will be no yellow lines on the approach to the crossing until at least the middle of next year, if at all. Residents parking schemes will take a similar amount of time to research, and then we will be placed in a “melting pot” with another hundred such hopefuls (a rise of 52 from March’s meeting).
So after three years of hard work and coherent arguments, the Council still refuses to address the concerns of residents in this area. I only hope that between now and next year nobody is killed in this area as a result of parking congestion. If they are, residents will be very clear as who is to blame.
As to the actual meeting, what a raucous event. The issue of Metro congestion was strictly not on the agenda, and despite being aware of the depth of feeling, local councillors had not ensured that it was not included. An item covering parking enforcement statistics for the area was included however, and this was the way in to tackle the overall problem. One after another, worried parents and angry residents vented their concerns on councillors. Despite attempts to curtail the debate, the Forum hierarchy was swamped with outcries and mayhem ensued. With full time officials ridiculed for their attempts to explain why safety measures could not be introduced due to red tape procedures that would take us into next year, it was left to Councillor David Potts to really raise the temperature. Launching into a venomous and personal attack against me, he called into question the whole idea of parking congestion and tried to portray me as incompetent. His claims that businesses were not suffering were ridiculed when one after another businessmen and women at the meeting attacked his claims and embarrassed him. The public were equally shocked to hear their own councillor attack both the area and myself. Mr Potts no longer represents the people of East Boldon and his actions have gone along way to seeing him loose his seat at the next election. I didn’t dignify him with a reply; he had already done enough damage to his own credibility.
So where do we go from here? I had intended to take a somewhat less involved role after last nights meeting, but the Council’s intransigence has ruined all plans for a quieter life. We also have a legal source involved now who is prepared to do some free work on our behalf. After a quick get together last night with active residents the following approach was adopted;
- The establishment of a residents action group
EAST BOLDON RESIDENTS METRO ACTION GROUP
- A legal claim against South Tyneside Council on disability access grounds/legislation. This is based on the fact that wheel chair and electric mobility scooter users cannot use pavements due to cars parked half on/half off pavements.
- A referral to the Local Government Ombudsman on the Council’s failure re duty of care.
- If the issue has not been resolved by May 2008, then an independent candidate will stand for regional election.
Long shots? Possibly, but surely this is the whole point of legal community protest; when faced with an intransigent body every possible means to achieve success must be used.
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