Islington Green Party has submitted a formal complaint to Islington Council about the so-called ‘Residents’ Roamer’ parking scheme, which allows Islington’s parking permit holders to park their cars anywhere in Islington during its hours of operation.
In its complaint, the Green Party points out that the consultation carried out – where the Council sent letters only to existing parking permit holders – was one-sided and unfair because it failed to seek the views of non-car owning residents (who make up more than 50% of Islington residents).
The Green Party is also complaining that the roamer policy discriminates against those living on council estates, who will not be able to benefit from the new parking scheme at all.
The complaint calls upon the Council to revoke operation of the Roamer scheme and the issuing of unlimited visitors’ vouchers. It also calls on the Council to undertake a borough-wide consultation with all residents, not just car users, before introducing any similar scheme in the future.
Nick Jack of Islington Green Party said:
“This is a very significant change to parking policy in the Borough, which goes against all the Council’s existing policies on reducing traffic and cutting down on unnecessary car journeys. It will lead directly to increased congestion and to even more air pollution, which is already damaging the health of children and adults in the Borough. It is shocking that the Council is introducing it without consulting all those affected in the Borough. By writing only to existing parking permit holders – car owners who are likely to favour the proposal – the Council has carried out an entirely one-sided and pointless consultation. We believe this to be wrong, unfair and unlawful.
It is also outrageous that this Council – which claims to care about social inequality in Islington – has brought in a policy which benefits those living in street properties at the expense of people living on Council estates, who will not qualify for free parking under the Roamer policy. This is both unfair and socially divisive.
We are calling on the Council to think again.”
