MP Attacks Council Over Hampton Traffic And Parking

1.15.46pm GMT Fri 27th Feb 2004

MP Vincent Cable said he had received substantial numbers of letters and calls of protests from local residents about the council's traffic and parking plans for the Hampton area.

One proposal is for a CPZ, but Vincent Cable said: "residents are concerned that the council is trying to push through an expensive and restrictive parking scheme, inconveniencing residents, who leave their cars near the station. That could be dealt with by stopping parking for an hour in the middle of the day around the station. Wardens would catch commuters who have left their cars for the day without causing problems for residents".

Vincent Cable also attacked the council for its mismanagement of the Thames Street traffic problem: "for years residents, with my support, have been pressing the council to introduce traffic calming on this very dangerous main road where the quality of life for residents is seriously compromised. But the council has repeatedly postponed introducing promised measures and has put forward a 20mph speed limit which the police say they cannot implement".