Is it worth the time to write to your MP ?

Is it worth your time to write to your MP ?

From: Mrs X
Sent: 05 December 2011
To: FREER, Mike
Subject: Parking

Dear Mike Freer

I was talking to one of our High Street shopkeepers in North Finchley recently and he told me that thirty shopkeepers had met with Barnet Council to discuss the problem of parking. As you know Barnet Council have withdrawn all their meters and left the motorist having to pay by mobile, that is if they can, or if they even possess one. The shopkeepers told the Council that some shops had lost 40 per cent of their trade and would soon be put out of business because of the fall in customers due to the parking difficulties. Apparently the Council members just laughed at them and said that however much the shopkeepers protested, the Council were not going to change their minds.

What I cannot fathom is the lack of understanding on the part of the Council. First of all, there have been so many complaints on this subject, including from the local Press, and I am sure your postbag is full of letters such as mine, that anyone with any common sense should realise that what the Council is doing is wrong. Surely the Council is there to serve the people of Barnet not to obstruct them. Do we not live in a democracy?

Secondly, where is the logic in putting the high street traders out of business? Shops will close and the Council will not receive any rates, and the more shops that close, the more will follow as shoppers will start to go elsewhere, (a) because of the parking problems and (b) because of the lack of shops.

Thirdly, the Council has now had the £27 million returned to it from Iceland. How can they justify all these cuts and the necessity to make more money from parking.

Fourthly, anyway the Council will end up receiving less in parking income because of the above.

As you were formerly Leader of Barnet Council, perhaps you can understand the mentality of this intransigence? More importantly, is there anything that can be done about it?

I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this matter.

Sincerely

and the reply

Mike Freer MP
Conservative Member of Parliament for Finchley & Golders Green
House of Commons
London SW1A 0AA
020 7219 7071 (Westminster) & 020 8445 5875 (Constituency)

Dear Mrs X,

Thank you for your email.

The pay & display machines were at the end of their life and replacing them across the 17 major town centres and many secondary shopping parades would have cost £1m hence the move to payment by phone. 

I have no real objections to the payment by phone (most Councils operate this system) BUT the changeover should have been accompanied with other payment by cash alternatives and a proper information campaign. The Council has now introduced two alternatives. Local shops that offer the pay point service (see www.paypoint.co.uk) can take payment for parking using cash. In addition the Council have just introduced a scratch card type system that people can buy from the Council and I believe this will be extended allowing shopkeepers to buy them and sell them (or give them away./discount them) in their shops. These additional are sensible but should have been done at the same time as the introduction of payment by phone.

With regard to Business Rates, the Council doesn’t receive business rates. Once collected they are paid over to the Treasury.

The deposits recovered from Icelandic banks is capital not revenue (income). Capital can be used to fund services but only whilst the capital lasts. Eventually the spending has to stop or income has to be increased to replace the capital used. For example if my salary is not covering my living expenses and I have some savings then I can use by savings to top up my salary and pay for living expenses. Once the savings have been exhausted I have to cut my spending. Hence Councils use the capital for spending that doesn’t have to repeated – building new schools or resurfacing roads.

Sincerely

Mike Freer

and now let's look again at the questions posed by Mrs X.

Do we not live in a democracy? 

A. No answer

Secondly, where is the logic in putting the high street traders out of business?

A. No answer

How can they justify all these cuts and the necessity to make more money from parking.

A. No answer

 

As you were formerly Leader of Barnet Council, perhaps you can understand the mentality of this intransigence? More importantly, is there anything that can be done about it?

A. No answer

Mr Mustard's conclusion. Mr Mike Freer, MP, doesn't care about residents or shopkeepers and besides, he can't really interfere in what Barnet Council choose to do; Barnet Council might listen to his opinion as a resident who happens to be the MP but they don't appear to listen to anyone. Mr Freer has not 1 but 2 parking permits that let him park anywhere for free in any CPZ in Barnet.

The letters were reproduced with permission from the Finchley Arrow website which is a non-political organ and not associated with any remarks made by Mr Mustard. Mr Mustard's remarks on this matter are not political either, he is more appalled at the clueless way in which parking meters have been removed and the inept implementation of (almost) cashless parking than by one email from a politician which doesn't answer the questions or offer any helpful suggestions or empathise in any way.

Yours frugally

Mr Mustard