'Very poor consultation' means Luton residents face further wait over Erin Close parking scheme

Restrictions were introduced last April at the junction of Erin Close and Douglas Road, following a public consultation described as "very poor".

Last week, the council's petition and representations board voted to carry out a second consultation.

The board was told that a petition signed by 34 residents in Erin Close and Erin Court was submitted to the borough council shortly after the scheme was first introduced..

It asked for the parking scheme to be suspended because of the financial impact on the people it was supposed to help.

It has since emerged the residents were given options to alter the parking arrangements, but not a clear choice of scrapping the scheme completely unless they suggested it themselves in the comments section.

The council's network and safety manager Christine Davy said that a meeting was held between the petitioners, ward councillors and councillor Paul Castleman, executive member for planning and transport.

The subsequent consultation with all residents asked whether it should remain no parking Monday to Saturday 8am-6pm or be changed to 8am to 8pm.

It was felt the amount of non-resident parking would increase if the restrictions were removed altogether, she explained.

“There are 35 permits in use, as of today, and if we decide to remove the scheme it will cost £2,500.

“The recommendation is to continue with the scheme, but the board can decide to remove it.”

Lead petitioner for the Erin Close residents Katy Smith said: “The consultation was deliberately vague so as not to include the option of a removal of the scheme.

“All it contained were the council’s preferred options. The scheme has only moved the problem from Erin Close to Douglas Road and into Crosby Close.

“One vehicle has been there in a dangerous state since that meeting in August.

“As residents we feel we are paying good money without having any prospect of changes to our parking and not being able to secure a space.

“Is it not possible the council can look at alternative solutions rather than the simplest and most financially beneficial one?” she asked.

“It’s still a struggle to find a parking place in the evenings.”

Labour Farley councillor Dave Taylor described it as a “pretty poor response” to the suggested options and reminded the board the parking scheme was called for by residents originally.

The council received a petition from 20 residents of Erin Close and Erin Court in 2017 calling for residents only parking in Erin Close.

It was hoped this would help tackle issues including crime, drug use and prostitution in the area.

Liberal Democrat Wigmore councillor Alan Skepelhorn said: “That to me smacks of very poor consultation.

“The whole basis of the of the original petition that came to us was for the removal of the scheme.

“The consultation went out with the one option on it. The residents were not asked whether they wanted the scheme to stay.”

Labour Biscot councillor Haji Abid asked: “Is there any way we can do a clear consultation this time, with the option of taking scheme completely off?”

The board agreed this, with three votes in favour, none against and three abstentions.