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Old Town parking is 'free not fee' as scheme is dropped
COUNTY council parking bosses have dropped the controversial scheme to charge drivers to park in Amersham Old Town.
The decision not to introduce pay and display and permit spaces was taken after huge public opposition by residents, businesses and visitors to the area - and an admission by Buckinghamshire County Council that no matter how much the plans were amended, they would still not be accepted by most people.
This follows a successful long-running 'Free not fee' campaign by the Examiner, launched in February last year, which opposed the introduction of costly charges across the Chiltern District.
Exhibitions outlining the plans were held on Friday and Saturday to gage public opinion.
Councillor Val Letheren, Buckinghamshire County Council's cabinet member for transport who was due to make the decision early next year, said: "I am pleased that so many people gave up their time to come to the recent exhibition and it was good to meet them there and receive their feedback.
"The analysis of the forms we received from the exhibition shows that the majority of the respondents were not in favour of the proposals for the Traffic Regulation Order and it is obvious that however much it was modified the proposals would still be unacceptable.
"This has been a long story and the recent news that Amersham Hospital is going to significantly reduce the amount of outpatient clinics has lessened the demand for parking in the Old Town."
Councillor Nick Rose, Chiltern District Council's cabinet member for planning and transport, said: "It has always been my primary concern to make sure the community's voice was heard and indeed now it has. I attended the exhibition last weekend and walked along the High Street speaking with many of the residents and businesses and it was quite clear that even with all the facts in front of them the majority did not want to see changes to the parking situation in Old Amersham.
"We have listened to what they had to say and taking this together with the recent news from Amersham Hospital we are fully supporting the County Council's decision to withdraw the proposed parking scheme."
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Fantastic news for all concerned. I'm pleased that Val and Nick listened to residents and responded so swiftly.