Sir,
The tone of opinions in last week's Observer was critical of Pembrokeshire County Council's stubborn approach to the civil parking enforcement it took over from Dyfed-Powys Police in February.
I've noticed their tiresome comeback to any disapproval is 'we've had more support than criticism,' which seems rather convenient as nobody can easily prove or disprove it.
If it is true, then I can only imagine your mailbag was bursting with letters in support of the council's implementation. Not one was published, so I doubt this was the case.
Mr. Philip Booth and Mr. Graham Fry both highlighted the effect this sledge-hammer approach is already having on local businesses. By its failure to consider the commercial needs and individual characteristics of Tenby, Saundersfoot, and Narberth, I presume the council decided early on that the potential cash generated from parking fines was more important than the rising business rates it will inevitably now lose out on as these areas become ghost towns.
I was delighted that one wise correspondent, Mr. Allan Morris, reminded us that the poor decisions coming from our county council chamber are being made by some people we once elected to represent us. The overwhelming control of PCC has long been in the hands of the 'Independent Political Group,' with strategic planning sadly a weak point. Not only are decisions being made which seemed nonsensical to most of us in the first place, but in time, they are often proven to be.
Last April, PCC controversially ventured into another money-spinning idea, joining only a handful of UK councils by introducing disabled parking charges in its car parks. This can only encourage disabled badge-holders to exercise their right to park on double-yellow lines, an exemption which their permit allows, free of charge.
This side-effect contradicts the council's stated reasons behind its takeover of civil parking enforcement, which it reassures us is a 'positive' scheme to: "improve road safety, traffic flow and pedestrian safety in town centres." I probably don't have to mention that to get within a whisker of double-yellow lines, we're still having to drive over some poorly surfaced roads not yet repaired after suffering frost-damage over the past few winters.
As Mr. Morris alluded, all 60 of Pembrokeshire's electoral wards are up for election on May 3, 2012. At the age of 21, I'm East Williamston Community Council's youngest councillor, and I'm giving considerable thought about standing for county council in my own ward, East Williamston Electoral Division, in 2012.
Rather than how old or how young a candidate is, what I think matters is that a councillor listens to constituents, acts in their greater good, and only stands for election for the right reasons.
It might seem a long way off, but the campaign for change can start as soon as we like. Your letters page demonstrates that public opinion and the need for accountability is very strong, so prospective candidates should not be shy.
If we fail to gather support for improved representation in County Hall, then we're hardly very well placed to complain when our county council disregards public opinion and overlooks good old-fashioned common sense!
Jacob Williams,
Wooden.