Towaway system would brand Haverhill 'worst town in Suffolk' claim
Tuesday, 11th September 2012.
A public meeting last night voted almost unanimously for a towaway system to stop illegal parking in Haverhill High Street, only for a its chairman to sweep the idea aside saying it would brand Haverhill the worst town in Suffolk
The chairman of Haverhill Safer Neighbourhood Team, Cllr Tim Marks, Haverhill town centre would be boycotted by shoppers if a towaway company was employed to strike there at random.
Cllr Marks dismissed the idea at the team's public forum last night during which residents had voted almost unanimously in favour of towaway.
The idea had been put forward by town councillor Bryan Hawes, who told Cllr Marks he had no right to sweep aside what the public of Haverhill had shown so overwhelmingly they wanted.
But Cllr Marks had support from the town mayor Cllr Pat Hanlon who said a towaway scheme would destroy all the efforts to bring better and bigger shops to the town.
Cllr Marks said people would go absolutely anywhere else to shop rather than Haverhill and it would prove ruinous.
But Cllr Hawes said it would encourage shoppers to come, rather than drive them away, if they knew they could walk down the street in safety.
During a fiery meeting, Haverhill’s senior policeman, Insp Peter Ferrie faced fury from many residents about the inability of police to prevent the illegal parking and, against his stated wishes, the issue was retained as a policing priority for the next three months.
Insp Ferrie reported his officers had issued 45 tickets to motorisyts parked illegally in High Street since it was made a priority at the last public forum in June.
Cllr Roger Andre said it beggared belief that the issue was being treated as a priority if only 45 tickets had been issued.
Many members of the public told of the numerous cars they saw parked illegally in the street and did not accept Insp Ferrie's contention that most of them would have been displaying a disabled blue badge.
Chris Cullumj said some new parking restrictions had been brought in in othjer parts of the town by Suffolk County Council. "What is the point of them?" he asked. "Who is going to enforce them?"
He said the town needed a traffic warden. Suffolk police have dispensed with traffic wardens throughout the county.
Residents suggested barriers be put across the street, but town clerk Will Austin explained this would need a Traffic Regulation Order which was not possible at present because of the level of objection.
"The town council is supportive of a barrier," he said. "I implore resiodents to engage with these issues more and not just when we ask you."
Cllr Maureen Byrne said the town council was determined it would happen but said residents must support them in the fight.
Insp Ferrie said policing priorities were supposed to be 'short-term and achievable' and the High Street parking issue was neither.
"I urge you that us working on this issue is a wasted opportunity when we could be addressing other more important ones," he said.
When Cllr Hawes raised the idea of clamping or towaway, Cllr Marks eventually agreed to calls for a vote on the idea to be taken.
Nearly all the meeting of over 30 members of the public voted in favour.
"The meeting is wholly in fravour of immediate action," said Cllr Hawes to Cllr Marks. "You don't have the right to dismiss it out of hand. People have said what they want. We want action tomorrow.
"I don't believe it will ruin the High Street. It will encourage people to come to Haverhill without fear of being knocked over as they walk down the street."
Earlier, Insp Ferrie had shown statistics on how crime has fallen in almost all areas in Haverhill over the past year, in some cases quite dramatically.
However, some members of the public wouldn't believe him and claimed people had lost faith with the police because of their failure to do anything about the parking issue.
Two previous policing priorities, anti-social behaviour in Queen Street and on the Chalkstone estate, were both discharged as having been dealt with.
Two new ones were adopted, along with High Street parking. They concerned young people congregating in Wilsey Woods near Shetland Road after dark, and anti-social behaviour along Railway Walk.
The chairman of Haverhill Safer Neighbourhood Team, Cllr Tim Marks, Haverhill town centre would be boycotted by shoppers if a towaway company was employed to strike there at random.
Cllr Marks dismissed the idea at the team's public forum last night during which residents had voted almost unanimously in favour of towaway.
The idea had been put forward by town councillor Bryan Hawes, who told Cllr Marks he had no right to sweep aside what the public of Haverhill had shown so overwhelmingly they wanted.
But Cllr Marks had support from the town mayor Cllr Pat Hanlon who said a towaway scheme would destroy all the efforts to bring better and bigger shops to the town.
Cllr Marks said people would go absolutely anywhere else to shop rather than Haverhill and it would prove ruinous.
But Cllr Hawes said it would encourage shoppers to come, rather than drive them away, if they knew they could walk down the street in safety.
During a fiery meeting, Haverhill’s senior policeman, Insp Peter Ferrie faced fury from many residents about the inability of police to prevent the illegal parking and, against his stated wishes, the issue was retained as a policing priority for the next three months.
Insp Ferrie reported his officers had issued 45 tickets to motorisyts parked illegally in High Street since it was made a priority at the last public forum in June.
Cllr Roger Andre said it beggared belief that the issue was being treated as a priority if only 45 tickets had been issued.
Many members of the public told of the numerous cars they saw parked illegally in the street and did not accept Insp Ferrie's contention that most of them would have been displaying a disabled blue badge.
Chris Cullumj said some new parking restrictions had been brought in in othjer parts of the town by Suffolk County Council. "What is the point of them?" he asked. "Who is going to enforce them?"
He said the town needed a traffic warden. Suffolk police have dispensed with traffic wardens throughout the county.
Residents suggested barriers be put across the street, but town clerk Will Austin explained this would need a Traffic Regulation Order which was not possible at present because of the level of objection.
"The town council is supportive of a barrier," he said. "I implore resiodents to engage with these issues more and not just when we ask you."
Cllr Maureen Byrne said the town council was determined it would happen but said residents must support them in the fight.
Insp Ferrie said policing priorities were supposed to be 'short-term and achievable' and the High Street parking issue was neither.
"I urge you that us working on this issue is a wasted opportunity when we could be addressing other more important ones," he said.
When Cllr Hawes raised the idea of clamping or towaway, Cllr Marks eventually agreed to calls for a vote on the idea to be taken.
Nearly all the meeting of over 30 members of the public voted in favour.
"The meeting is wholly in fravour of immediate action," said Cllr Hawes to Cllr Marks. "You don't have the right to dismiss it out of hand. People have said what they want. We want action tomorrow.
"I don't believe it will ruin the High Street. It will encourage people to come to Haverhill without fear of being knocked over as they walk down the street."
Earlier, Insp Ferrie had shown statistics on how crime has fallen in almost all areas in Haverhill over the past year, in some cases quite dramatically.
However, some members of the public wouldn't believe him and claimed people had lost faith with the police because of their failure to do anything about the parking issue.
Two previous policing priorities, anti-social behaviour in Queen Street and on the Chalkstone estate, were both discharged as having been dealt with.
Two new ones were adopted, along with High Street parking. They concerned young people congregating in Wilsey Woods near Shetland Road after dark, and anti-social behaviour along Railway Walk.
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