YOUR views: Do you think a petition would make a jot of difference to Wiltshire Council?

There is a Government consultation on letting local residents and businesses petition their local council on excessive parking charges to force a review, called: ‘The right to challenge parking policies’ You can find the consultation at gov.uk/government/ consultations/the-right-to-challenge-parking-policies.

Of course, this does not mean a council’s review would then be favourable, but it would allow a mechanism by which the council would be expected to respond. The consultation closes on October 10.

I find it strange that John Glen MP is not talking about this as Parliamentary Private Secretary to Eric Pickles MP, who is overseeing this consultation in his role as Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. Locally, Wiltshire Council is now in the process of conducting a review of all its parking policies. The timing is obviously uncomfortable for our MP as he does not want to be seen supporting the protagonists fighting to get Salisbury’s parking charges reduced.

So many local businesses have cited the excessive parking charges, especially short stay, as directly impacting on their trade. This is supported far and wide by constituents’ comments to me.

Wiltshire Council shall be soon announcing a public consultation on their future parking policy based on their review, for which all of Salisbury patiently awaits.

Cllr Tom Corbin

Bemerton Ward

Labour Salisbury Parliamentary Candidate