Hmmm …
Well, finally, the voting forms have been delivered …
And I’ve got to confess, they look like a badly done — and rushed, uncosted — job. With all but two of the options having associated services charges.
And, being a non driver on a very low income, I’ve gone for one of the (free)
council run options. And even that’s not perfect.
Mostly because it’s all very dependant on the Council actually adopting the road!
Frankly, I’ve liked to have a parking permit. While I don’t drive, I’ve friends who do, and it would have been nice to have them over.
But — and here’s the BUT — I’d’ve had no problem with an extra few pence on the service charge for a permit … had it been present when I’d originally moved in, eighteen months ago, and had we all received some sort of parking permit, from the very start.
Especially as I — and one or two others of my neighbours — were explicitly told by Eunice, the Southern Anglia agent who showed us round, that there was enough parking for everyone.
Having a parking service charge retroactively added onto my rent, after I’ve moved in?
That strikes me as an extra — and needless — premium for something I’m not getting.
And frankly reeks of Southern Anglia trying to profiteer*.
••••
As you can imagine, I’m not really happy about the options presented to us.
And, while I’ve heard that option four is probably going to cost around 15p a week, I’d’ve liked to have seen that on the voting forms sent to us; if you look at the photo, above, you’ll see they’re not. That’s what’s got me, if anything.
There’s no actual prices attached.
Now I’ll apologise to anyone that’s got their heart on one of the other choices available.
But I’m going for Number Five, here.
•••••
And, just as a final thought, I’ve already sent off the form by email.
Here’s what I told Sara Bartleman, the Housing Officer for the area;
Subject: Rollason Way Parking
Date: 28 April 2009 17:24:27 BST
To: sara.bartleman@circleanglia.org
Dear Ms Bartleman
I received the voting forms, today, for the seven options for Rollason Way’s parking, and must confess that none seem satisfactory. As I was unable to attend the Resident’s Meeting on this issue, it’s nice to have them finally arrive.
Or, at least, none of the options with-out associated service charges, seem satisfactory, nor do they have any associated costings; something that I — being on a very low income — would have appreciated seeing.
Which leaves me personally voting for Option Five, amongst the seven; the one that allows for Rollason Way being adopted by Brentwood Council.
And may I add that this seems the lesser — and cheapest — of seven evils, given that the option as presented states that this is “… to be managed by Brentwood Council IF the road is adopted”. (Option Three, the other council option, says that the signs will be “… a deterrent”. May I say, this seems to be very unconvincing.)
May I also ask why — in view of the fact I feel someone from your organisation must have known that there was little parking available, in the immediate area, given the development’s proximity to both Brentwood High Street and Brentwood Station — nothing was done sooner, to resolve this issue sooner? I know one or two of my neighbours have told me explicitly that they would not have moved into their flat, had they realised that this would be such a huge issue.
It seems to be badly and hurriedly done; it’s had time, after all, to head this off.
•••••
Well, as you can imagine …
But, at any rate, there’ll probably be hell to pay, when whatever option is chosen.
Rollason Way’s Parking Saga … Is Not Over!
* That’s just an opinion; I may well be wrong, but …
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